Rahul Gandhi-led opposition delegation forcibly sent back from Srinagar airport

NEW DELHI (92 News) – Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and 11 leaders of other opposition parties were sent back to New Delhi soon after landing at Srinagar airport, Indian media reported. The delegation members, including Ghulam Nabi Azad, were not allowed to leave the airport. The opposition leaders had reached Srinagar to express solidarity with the Kashmiris and meet the Hurriyat leaders. Ghulam Nabi Azad said that why they had not been allowed to leave the airport if everything is fine. "The IOK situation is very concerning. It's close to 20 days. No news for 20 days. The government says the situation is normal. But then they do not allow leaders to go? Haven't seen such contradiction... If it's normal, why aren't we allowed?" he said. Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury, CPI's D Raja, DMK's Tiruchi Siva, Rashtriya Janata Dal's Manoj Jha and Dinesh Trivedi from the Trinamool Congress were part of the delegation. Meanwhile, the Indian forces subjected journalists covering the visit of Rahul Gandhi to severe torture. They were forcibly stopped from covering the event. The security forces also misbehaved with a female report. On Friday, nearly 1000 people including men, women and children defied strict curfew and other restrictions and took part in a demonstration held in Soura area of Srinagar. Indian troops fired pellets and teargas shells to disperse the protesters, triggering intense clashes between the demonstrators and the troops. Several people were injured in the brutal action of the troops. BBC correspondent Aamir Pirzada at the scene said that one man was seen bleeding from his eye and another had suffered a neck injury. The occupation authorities had further tightened curfew and other restrictions on Friday to prevent people from conducting a march towards the UN office at Sonawar in Srinagar against India’s anti-Kashmir moves and its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. Call for the march was given by the resistance leaders through posters appearing in Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir valley. The march was also aimed at resisting the Indian attempt to change the demography of Kashmir through settlement of the outsiders in the territory. Due to severe curfew and restrictions, Juma prayers could not be held at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid and in many mosques in Kashmir, Chanab and Peer Panchal valleys. Occupied Kashmir is under strict lockdown since August 5 when Narendra Modi-led Indian government announced repeal of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian authorities have converted the Kashmir valley particularly Srinagar into a military garrison by deploying Indian troops and paramilitary personnel in every nook and corner. The authorities also continue to impose information blockade as TV channels and internet links remain snapped and restrictions on media continue since 5th August.