In the Indian press, one could have the impression that it was a genuine EU”Delegation”, it was just a group of right-wing populists, who visited the Kashmir Region. From Brussels Bernd Riegert.
Group picture with modes: the Indian Premier (1. Number in white), invites right-wing populists from Europe
Bernard Zimniok (2. Series, 2. v. li.) is so proud of. He has published a photo with the Indian foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Twitter, and speaks of an interesting conversation. The German AfD members of the European Parliament is part of a tour group of 27 mostly right-wing populist members who travel at the invitation of the Indian government this Tuesday in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The journey of the deputies, who were also received by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra modi, in India for a certain amount of press coverage, because it is so far, even Indian parliamentarians was not possible to visit Jammu and Kashmir.
Sensitive Travel Destination
The Indian government had withdrawn in August of the Region its special semi-Autonomous Status, which led to political tensions with the neighboring state of Pakistan, to parts of Kashmir claimed as his territory. Since August of Jammu and Kashmir from the outer world, and telecommunication is disconnected connections to a large extent. Two of the parliamentarians, who were now invited by the government of India, were endorsed in a debate in the European Parliament the action of the Indian government. The majority of the Parliament and the EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, however, a neutral attitude and to call both India and Pakistan, the tensions around Kashmir peacefully dismantle and to de-escalate.
No Delegation in accordance with the EU
According to the EU representation in New Delhi is not in the travel group an official “Delegation” of the European Parliament. These delegations are subject to strict rules and are compiled by the entire Parliament from all political groups. The Delegation of India maintains relations with the Indian Parliament. Official travel to India and need to be closely with the foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament in a coordinated way.
The press office of the Parliament could not verify whether the right tour group, which is currently travelling in India, to members of an official Delegation is. “We know nothing about it,” said a spokeswoman. The trip should have been approved previously, so that, for example, the cost can be adopted.
The British MEP Richard Corbett, who is not part of the group, issued a statement in which he pointed out that the right-wing populists who have travelled on Indian invitation on the subcontinent, a contract by the European Parliament or other EU-would have Institution.
Two AfD’s Deputy of the party
Among the 27 members of two German AfD-politician, six French right-wing populists, five Polish nationalists, four members of the British Brexit-party, two Italians of the right-wing Lega, a Belgian, a Spaniard and a Czech. The Indian government wants to demonstrate, according to the Indian newspaper “The Telegraph” with the visit of the parliamentary group that the situation in Kashmir is more or less normal. Previously, members of the US had criticised Congress that no one could get independent information on the conditions in Kashmir.
Protest of journalists in Kashmir against Internet and telephone restrictions (03.10.2019)
The Polish PiS MEP Ryszard Czarnecki had defended in a debate in Parliament in Strasbourg, the action of the Indian government. “We need to look to the acts of terrorism in India, Jammu and Kashmir. These terrorists are not came from the moon, but they come from the neighbouring countries. We need to support India,” said Richard Czarnecki. Opposition politicians in India have criticized the trip by the right-wing populist deputies to Kashmir. “Obviously you have the red carpet is rolled out. Their views agree with those of the ruling BJP (Indian nationalists). That’s why they get access,” said Doraisamy Raja, member of Parliament of the Communist party of India.