Disappointed With The Way Foreign Envoys Brought To Jammu And Kashmir To Endorse Centre's Claims Of Normalcy, Says National Conference

The National Conference (NC) on Thursday said it was “disappointed” with the way the government brought envoys from various countries to Jammu and Kashmir to “endorse” its “claims of normalcy” in the union territory. The party alleged that the envoys have been brought to the Valley on a “guided tour”, where access has been limited to “handpicked individuals who toe the government line”. “The National Conference is disappointed with the way foreign envoys have been brought to the valley to endorse the Centre’s claims of normalcy,”.

Envoys from 15 countries, including US Ambassador to India Kenneth I Juster, arrived on Thursday on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, the first visit by diplomats since August last year when the state’s special status was revoked and it was downsized to a union territory. “The NC wishes to ask these envoys that if the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is “normal”, then why are scores of people, including three former chief ministers, under detention for almost 160 days and why have the people been denied access to the internet for over five months?” a statement issued by the party said.

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