Ghulam Nabi arrives in Kashmir on 4-day visit

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 20

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad arrived on a four-day visit to Kashmir on Friday evening, days after the Supreme Court allowed him to undertake the tour of four districts in the state without holding any “political rally”.

During his visit, Azad, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, would be meeting individuals and delegations of various organisations to have an idea about the problems being faced by them due to restrictions and communication blockade since August 5. Party sources said Azad, a former J&K Chief Minister, would be meeting various individuals and representatives of associations at a guest house in Srinagar tomorrow. He would also be visiting Anantag and Baramulla district headquarters on Saturday and Sunday, before his return to New Delhi on Monday.

The Congress leader, as per the directions, would be submitting his report to the Supreme Court, which granted permission to him for visiting the state.

Normal life in Kashmir continues to remain affected for the 47th day on Friday due to restrictions and communication blockade effective from August 5. While the restrictions were gradually lifted from all the areas, mobile and Internet remain blocked.

This is for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 that Azad arrived here following his three aborted visits to the two capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar. He had been denied entry to Jammu from the airport there on one occasion during this period. Azad was also denied entry to Srinagar twice when he was returned from the airport here, including the visit when he was part of a 12-member all-party delegation led by former Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

The Supreme Court has allowed Azad to visit four districts of the state on his plea to meet people after restrictions and communication blockade.