Rahul Gandhi, other Indian opposition leaders to visit IoK today

Indian Congress's Rahul Gandhi and leaders from various opposition parties will visit on Saturday Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) for the first time since the government abrogated Article 370 from its constitution.

Other leaders in the delegation, include Opposition leaders D Raja, Sharad Yadav, Majeed Memon and Manoj Jha. Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma are also expected to visit IoK today. However, the delegation was not allowed to step out of Srinagar airport and was sent back in an hour.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi onboard flight to Srinagar. A delegation of Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, are visiting Jammu & Kashmir today. pic.twitter.com/ixBkANgksg

— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2019

Before departing for Srinagar, Yadav spoke to the media and said, "We are citizens of the country. So is everyone in Jammu and Kashmir. We are not people who will make things difficult for anyone. We just want to go and see the situation on the ground."

Indian government has not allowed any Indian leader to enter occupied Kashmir since August 5.Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Information and Public Relations had requested the opposition leaders not to visit Srinagar as it would 'disturb the gradual restoration of normal life'.

attempts should not be made by senior political leaders to disturb the gradual restoration of normal life. Political leaders are requested to cooperate and not visit Srinagar as they would be putting other people to inconvenience. (2/3)

— DIPR-J&K (@diprjk) August 23, 2019