European Union delegation to Visit Kashmir tomorrow

New Delhi: European Union delegation will visit Kashmir tomorrow, the government sources said. A delegation of members of European Parliament on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who pressed for urgent action against the countries using terrorism as a state policy, thus setting the tone for the visit of the team to Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow. 

BN Dunn, Member of European Parliament, 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& talk to some local people. What we all want is normalcy and peace for everyone." The delegation also met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval today who briefed them about the situation in Kashmir.

As per the sources, the European Union Parliamentary delegation will visit Srinagar tomorrow and will meet Jammu and Kashmir administration officials and local residents of Srinagar. They are also likely to call on the Governor.

This



will be the first foreign delegation to visit Jammu and Kashmir since its special status granted under Article 370 was abolished and the state bifurcated into two Union Territories on August 7.

Centre had on August 5 announced the decision to abrogate Article 370 and subsequently bifurcate the state into two Union Territories. Restrictions were imposed in the Valley considering the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370, though many of them have been revoked since then.

While interacting with the delegation in the national capital, Modi expressed hope that its members, during their visit to Jammu and Kashmir, would get a "better understanding" of the region and "a clear view" of the government's development and governance priorities there.

The delegation comprised 28 lawmakers from the European Union. During the interaction the Prime Minister gave a strong message against terrorism, saying, "We must fight terror together". Modi also called the European Union as the "largest trade partner".