New Delhi: A 28-member strong European delegation will visit Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow to review the situation in the state, three months after the government scrapped Article 370.
The members, today, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval and is slated to meet with Vice President, Venkaiah Naidu. During the meeting with Modi, the delegation spoke about the prevailing situation in Kashmir after the government’s decision to fully integrate the state with India.
The statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said, “Members of European Parliament called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg today. Prime Minister appreciated the importance the Parliamentarians attach to their relationship with India by visiting right at the beginning of their term.”
The statement added, “PM expressed hope they have a fruitful visit to various parts of the country, including to J&K. Their visit to J&K should give delegation better understanding of cultural and religious diversity of the region; apart from giving a clear view of development and governance priorities of the region.”
Reports say that Modi asked the European Parliament members to take urgent actions against all those who sponsor terrorism or use terrorism as state policy.
A member of the delegation from the United Kingdom, B. N. Dunn, said, “Yes we are going there (J&K) tomorrow. The Prime Minister explained to us about it (abrogation of Article 370) but I want to see on the ground how it actually is and talk to some local people. What we all want is normalcy and peace for everyone.”
During their visit to Kashmir the European Union Parliamentarians will meet the Governor, Jammu and Kashmir administration officials, and civil society members.
Their visit comes just two days before the state will officially be bifurcated into two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The official bifurcation on 31 October is symbolic as India is celebrating the ‘National Unity Day’ on that day.
