City
Epaper

Congress slams Centre for disallowing MPs to visit Kashmir

By IANS | Updated: November 18, 2019 16:30 IST

Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Centre for denying permission to members of Parliament to visit Jammu and Kashmir and giving access to members of the European Union in the region, making Kashmir an "international issue".

Open in App

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Chowdhury demanded the release of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah to attend the winter session of the Parliament which will culminate on December 13.

Abdullah has been in detention in Kashmir since August 5 when the Central government abrogated the special status of the erstwhile state.

The Congress leader also demanded the release of senior party leader P. Chidambaram, who is currently in Tihar jail in INX Media case.

The treasury bench raised objection when Chowdhury used a derogatory term for members of the European Union to which Speaker Om Birla assured to examine and expunge the remark.

"Our leader Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to visit the Valley, but European leaders were given permission. Kashmir is an internal issue, but this government has made it an international issue," Chowdhury said.

Terming Centre's move an "atrocity" not to allow Abdullah to attend Lok Sabha proceedings, the Congress leader accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of lying on the whereabouts of Abdullah in monsoon session of Parliament.

"Four important leaders - Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Home Minister and External Affairs Minister - are not present in the House. Home Minister Amit Shah had assured us in August that Abdullah was not in detention, but 108 days later he is still not here. What is the reason?", he asked.

Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla interrupted, saying "when Home Minister Amit Shah had informed the House in the previous session that Abdullah was not under detention, he was correct. The written information of his detention was received later by the Lok Sabha secretariat."

The Congress along with National Conference, Nationalist Congress Party, Revolutionary Socialist Party and Dravida Munetra Kazhgam had raised the issue to release Abdullah during the Question Hour and also trooped near Speaker's podium, sloganeering "stop dividing the country".

Chowdhury also raised the issue of withdrawal of Special Protection Group cover of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Gandhi family and reminded how late former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee remained under SPG protection during UPA rule.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Farooq Abdullahchowdhurycongresskashmir
Open in App

Related Stories

NationalOperation Sindoor: Congress Leader Jairam Ramesh Hails Strikes, Stands With Armed Forces

NationalRahul Gandhi Dual Citizenship Row: Allahabad HC Dismisses PIL Alleging Dual Nationality

NationalRahul Gandhi on Pahalgam Terror Attack: "Those Responsible Must Pay a Price, PM Must Not Waste Time"

MaharashtraSharad Pawar Supports Congress' Call for Special Parliament Session on Pahalgam Terror Attack

NationalPahalgam Terror Attack: Social Activist Shot, Injured in North Kashmir Amid Valley Tensions

National Realted Stories

NationalPakistan's F-16 and 2 JF-17 jets shot down by India

NationalBJP MP Nishikant Dubey says decisive action will be taken by Centre today amid military standoff with Pakistan

National24 airports shut, airlines issue travel advisories amid tensions between India-Pakistan

NationalIndia to present its case today before IMF to review bailout package to Pakistan

NationalIndia foils Pakistan's drone, missile assault to attack Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur