Union Government has said that a delegation of 15 foreign envoys is visiting Jammu and Kashmir on Thurseday. The visit has been organized by the government on the request of these envoys. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesman Raveesh Kumar said, objective of the visit was for the Envoys to obtain first-hand information how normalcy has been largely restored in Jammu and Kashmir. The Envoys met civil society members and political leaders. The Spokesman said, the European Union Ambassador wanted the delegation to be broad-based but the government wanted a group size which is manageble. The visit has been organized at a short notice. Envoys from US, South Korea, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Maldives, Morocco, Fiji, Norway, Philippines, Argentina, Peru, Niger, Nigeria, Togo and Guyana.
This created a stir in political circle. Congress criticized the government for allowing foreign envoys to visit Jammu and Kashmir, but not opposition party leaders. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, party leader Jairam Ramesh accused the Centre of adopting double standards over the issue. He demanded that the government allowed unfettered access to Jammu and Kashmir to all the politicians. The People's Democratic Party has expelled eight party leaders who met LG and members of the foreign delegation in Srinagar. The party expelled the leaders for going "against the will of the people" by engaging in parleys with the government.
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