In Kashmir, ‘even kids are not allowed to step out’, a woman tells Rahul Gandhi tearfully in a plane
The incident took place when the Opposition delegation was on its way back to New Delhi after being refused entry to Srinagar.
श्रीनगर से वापस आते वक्त फ्लाइट में एक महिला @RahulGandhi से अपनी मुश्किल बताते हुए। pic.twitter.com/f8mzgaskhx
— Arun Kumar Singh (@arunsingh4775) August 24, 2019
On August 24, a delegation of Opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Sitaram Yechury, attempted to visit Srinagar. They were, however, not allowed to step out of Srinagar airport citing security reasons, and were eventually sent back. On the flight back to New Delhi, a woman stepped up to speak to Rahul Gandhi and narrated the ordeal of the Kashmiris living under a communication blockade.
“Little kids are not allowed to step out of their houses. My brother is a heart patient. We are under stress in all ways,” the woman said, almost on the verge of tears. While the security guards tried to dissuade her from talking, Rahul Gandhi appeared to be listening intently, even holding her hand reassuringly.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also commented on the issue, saying that “this is one out of the millions of people who are being silenced and crushed in the name of nationalism”.
“There is nothing more political and anti-national than the shutting down of all democratic rights that is taking place in Kashmir,” she added.
there is NOTHING more ‘political’ and ‘anti national’ than the shutting down of all democratic rights that is taking place in Kashmir. It is the duty of every one of us to raise our voices against it, we will not stop doing so.
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) August 25, 2019
Earlier, the former Congress President tried to convince the security forces to let him visit Srinagar. “The Governor has invited me to visit. If the government is saying that everything is normal in Kashmir, it is quite surprising that we are not being allowed to go out of the airport,” Rahul Gandhi was heard saying to a security official in uniform.
"I just want to go to any area which is peaceful, talk to few ppl & if thrs 144 I am ready to go individually..Governor had invited me.." @RahulGandhi today at the Srinagar Airport #Kashmir pic.twitter.com/FOo2ZBEQeJ
— Ashish/Aashu (ABP News) (@AshishSinghLIVE) August 24, 2019
Jammu and Kashmir has been under lockdown since the state’s special status was scrapped on August 5.
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