Srinagar: A delegation of twenty three EU MPs arrived here on Tuesday for a first-hand assessment of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir following the revocation of the state's special status under Article 370.
During the two-day visit, the EU MPs are going to be briefed by government body on the situation in the Valley as well as other parts of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
The team is also expected to meet a cross-section of people.
The team originally comprised twenty seven parliamentarians, mostly from extreme right or right wing parties, howevert four did not travel to Kashmir and have reportedly came back to their respective countries, officials said.
This is the primary high-level foreign delegation visiting Kashmir after the 5th August decision of the Central government announcing the abrogation of provisions of Article 370 and therefore to bifurcate the state into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
There was an entire closing with in the city and at minimum of 4 people were injured in clashes between protesters and security forces in various parts of the Valley and in Srinagar, officials said.
On Monday, the members of the European Union met PM Narendra Modi in Delhi. While welcoming the MPs to India, he "expressed the hope that they need a fruitful visit to various parts of the country, as well as to Jammu and Kashmir".
"Their visit to Jammu and Kashmir should give the delegation a better understanding of the cultural and religious diversity of the region of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, with the exception of giving them a clear view of the development and goverment priorities of the region," a PMO statement said.
National Security advisor Ajit Doval, who hosted a lunch for the guest, also gave them an outlineof the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
A few weeks ago, a senator of the US was denied permission to visit Kashmir.
A joint delegation of opposition MPs, as well as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, undertaking a visit to Kashmir about 2 months ago, was not allowed to go beyond the Srinagar airport after their arrival from Delhi and were sent back to the national capital.
