Why opposition leaders not being allowed to visit J-K, asks Sibal

After the centre released the name of the 36 BJP leaders who will be visiting Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, Congress leader Kapil Sibal criticised the centre's move and asked why opposition leaders were not being permitted to visit the region.

New Delhi:Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Thursday criticised the BJP-led government over the scheduled visit of 36 union ministers to Jammu and Kasmir to spread awareness about the central schemes and share views on abrogation of Article 370 and asked why opposition leaders were not being permitted to visit the region.

"They keep saying that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is normal and they have not levied any impositions. If yes, then why the ministers are going there to make people understand the benefit of Article 370. In so many months if people have not understood the benefits of the amendment made in Article 370, it means they are angry from the Centre," Sibal told a news agency.

"If everything is normal why they are not allowing the opposition leaders to visit Jammu and Kashmir and connect with masses?" he asked.

The ministers will visit Jammu and Kashmir from January 18 to January 25.

While the Citizenship Amendment Act remains on the agenda, the ministers would hold meetings with people to share their views on bifurcation of the state into two union territories after the abrogation of Article 370.

These ministers are set to hold 51 meetings in Jammu and eight in Kashmir.

They would share the vision and plans of their ministries for the development of the region.

The ministers would interact with the people, exchange ideas on possibilities in the region and discuss the scope of development in various sectors. The feedback would be utilised in bringing complete normalcy in the UT.

The outreach is also apparently aimed at strengthening the integration of people of Jammu and Kashmir with the country.