Shashi Tharoor faces criticism for saying situation in IIOJK is normal
Srinagar: Senior Indian National Congress leader and member of Indian Parliament Shashi Tharoor is facing severe criticism for declaring the situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir as normal after his recent visit to the territory.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Shashi Tharoor, who heads the Indian Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, is on a visit to occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He had declared the “situation in the territory as normal” after meeting the Lieutenant Governor of occupied Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, in Srinagar for which he is facing criticism from political circles, especially from leaders of his own party.
Reacting to Shashi Tharoor’s statement, Jammu and Kashmir Congress Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said that he should have also met ordinary Kashmiris to know the ground realities. He said that Kashmiris also expected him to meet them and get a better understanding of the situation.
Ravinder Sharma said that at least he should meet his own party workers who have been struggling for the restoration of statehood for the last seven years.
Renowned Indian defence and political analyst Praveen Sahni has also criticized Shashi Tharoor, saying if the situation in occupied Kashmir is to be understood, one should talk to civil society. He said that he had recently returned from the Kashmir Valley and was fully aware of the ground situation.
He said that meeting only government officials is not enough to understand the situation in the occupied territory and Shashi Tharoor should take a lesson from Rahul Gandhi in terms of serving the common Kashmiris.
Student leader Nasir Khohami also expressed disappointment over Shashi Tharoor’s visit. He said occupied Kashmir deserves more than just symbolic visits and pre-arranged meetings.
According to him, a member of parliament like Shashi Tharoor is expected to have meaningful conversations with even those whose voices have been consistently ignored.
