*NEW DELHI – Indian authorities on Sunday defended blocking oppositionpoliticians from visiting Muslim-majority Kashmir, saying it was to “avoidcontroversy” weeks after stripping the restive region of its autonomy andimposing a major clampdown.*
India’s Hindu-nationalist government has been criticised by the mainopposition Congress party over the contentious move on August 5 that bringsKashmir — which has waged an armed rebellion against Indian control since1989 — under its direct rule.
The region remains under strict lockdown with movement limited and manyphone and internet services cut, although authorities say they have beeneasing restrictions gradually.
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, still a key figure in India as ascion of the powerful Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty, was earlier invitedby local governor Satya Pal Malik to visit Kashmir.
But video released by Congress showed Gandhi questioning officials aboutwhy he was stopped from entering Kashmir’s main city of Srinagar at theairport on Saturday.
“The governor has said I’m invited. He has invited me so I have come butyou’re saying I can’t go,” he said.
“And government is saying everything is OK, everything is normal. So ifeverything is normal, why are we not allowed out? It is a bit surprising.”
Regional police chief Dilbagh Singh told AFP police supported the decision.
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“In an environment that is getting to normalcy, we didn’t want anycontroversial statement from anyone. That’s why they were asked to returnfrom the airport itself,” Singh said.
Malik told the ANI news agency he invited Gandhi out of good will but thathe then politicised the issue.
The controversy came as key pro-freedom group Hurriyat Conference, acoalition of local political parties, released its first official commentssince the clampdown and called for locals to “resist at this criticaljuncture” New Delhi’s move.
“Each and every person must face the naked Indian brutality with courage…People should organise peaceful protests and demonstrations in their areasof residence,” Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani said in a statementobtained by AFP.
The Hurriyat Conference, which supports Kashmir’s right to choose whetherit wants to be part of India or Pakistan, added that Pakistan and the widerMuslim community should “come forward to… help the besieged people”.
The call came as India’s home affairs ministry refuted a report by India’sNews18 television on Sunday that the region was running out of lifesavingmedicines, saying supplies were “slightly higher than the monthly average”.-APP/AFP
