If Indian Govt Has Nothing to Hide, They Shouldn't Worry, Says US Senator After Being Denied Nod To Visit J&K

In view of safety and security, the Narendra Modi-led Indian government has denied permission to Chris Van Hollen, a senior US Senator from the Democratic Party, who wanted to visit Kashmir to see the situation ‘first-hand’. Notably, Hollen wanted to visit Kashmir after the special status to Jammu and Kashmir was revoked on August 5. But despite being denied permission, the US senator, called on officials and key members of civil society in Delhi on Thursday and Friday. “I wanted to visit Kashmir to see first-hand what was happening but was not allowed by the Indian government. We had approached the government about a week ago, but were told it was not the right time to go there”, the Indian Express quoted Hollen as saying.

The US senator, who was born in Karachi asserted that he has a deep affection for India but the ‘Indian government doesn’t want them to see what’s happening in the Valley. “If the Indian government has nothing to hide, they should not worry about people visiting Kashmir and witnessing the situation with their own eyes,” Hollen told the Washington Post.