New Delhi:Modi government finds itself in a muddle over the EU delegation visit to Kashmir, as questions are being raised over the purpose and involvement of 'International Business Broker' Madi Sharma in organising the unofficial visit.
German envoy claims MEPs statement on Kashmir not in official capacity In the backdrop of the recent developments and alleged sidelining of MEA in fixing appointments with top-level leaders including the Prime Minister and NSA Doval, for the MEPs, German envoy has issued a statement.
Speaking to ETV Bharat on whether German authorities had any knowledge regarding their visit and whether statements from them will uphold any official capacity, German envoy to India, Walter J Lindner said that MEP's came here in private capacity and not in any official visit.
"I can't tell much more than what we have read in the newspaper. EU has iterated its stand that these parliamentarians are here in private capacity," Lindner said.
Officially, Germany had backed the Indian government's move to strip off special status granted to the state for nearly seven decades. Though the diplomatic sources have said that they have time and again raised their concerns regarding the restrictions in the valley, on humanitarian grounds.
There is a high possibility that during German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to India, which starts from Thursday, both leaders might talk about the prevailing situation in the valley.
Meanwhile, the Congress party has asked the Prime Minister to make a clear statement on Madi Sharma and the third party interference in the internal matter of the country. Congress also said that the Modi government has committed a 'grave sacrilege' by allowing a third party to assess the ground situation of Kashmir, while the valley remains an integral part of India.
Terming Article 370 an internal issue of India, EU parliamentarians visiting Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday said they stand by the country in its fight against global terrorism.
The delegation was the first high-level foreign visit to Kashmir after the August 5 decision of the Centre to revoke the state's special status and bifurcate it into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Ministry of External Affairs has officially denied extending an invitation to any of these MEPs. The letter sent by Madi Sharma to British MEP Davies clearly stated that expenses for the visit would be sponsored by International Institute for National Aligned Studies in Delhi. The relation between IINA, Madi Sharma and PMO casts doubts over the purpose of the visit.
Read: Congress questions Modi govt over MEPs meet and 'broker' Madi Sharma
