AGENCIES / WEB DESK
A delegation of over 20 MPs from European countries has arrived in Srinagar this afternoon. The delegation comprises of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from Italy, Britain, France, Germany, and Poland.
After arrival, the delegation is visiting Army 15 Corps Headquarters at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar for having briefing about the overall security situation including along LoC in J&K. The delegation is likely to meet some delegations of residents, owners of houseboats and some other delegations.
The MPs delegation, drawn mainly from far right parties, is the first international group to visit Kashmir after the government’s decision to scrap J&K’s special status under Article 370 and bifurcating the State into two union territories. Few of the MPs belong to the Left or liberal parties.
The delegation met Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday in New Delhi. A statement issued by PMO said, “PM Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Monday briefed the delegation and also discussed the issue of Kashmir and the situation there after the abrogation of Article 370. PM told the delegation that there should be zero tolerance for militancy. Expressing hope that the parliamentarians’ visit to various parts of the country will be fruitful, Modi said the visit to Jammu and Kashmir should give them a better understanding of the cultural and religious diversity of the regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.”
Ahead of the visit of foreign delegation, the security has been beefed up in Srinagar and elsewhere with adequate deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and J&K police personnel in place to maintain law & order.