India’s Kashmir window dressing with EU parliamentarians’ visit backfires

India’s attempt to use a group of right-wing European Members of Parliament to gain some international legitimacy for its August 5 annexation of the disputed Kashmir territory has backfired as the European Union says it did not authorize the visit.

The EU officially distanced itself from the visit of the parliamentarians, saying the MEPs are on a private business trip, with no authorization from the European Union Headquarters in Brussels.

The visit appeared to be a clear public relations exercise with like-minded nationalist leaders from Europe appearing in pictures with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi’s ultranationalist government initiated the revocation of constitutional autonomy of Jammu an Kashmir on August and deprived Kashmiris of their basic rights to freedom and expression with a military clampdown.

Since August 5 change in the status of Kashmir – which Modi defends as a step toward economic development of the area – several foreign organization, mainstream Indian politicians, and Western embassies have been denied permission to visit Kashmir.

New Delhi’s actions have drawn criticism from several countries, human rights bodies and even Indian politicians.

In the latest instance, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who had an economically successful visit to New Delhi, has said the situation in Kashmir is unsustainable and not good.

According to a BBC report, Chris Davies, a British Liberal Democrat party MP, has revealed that his invitation had been rescinded after he sought “unfettered access to go anywhere and speak to anyone he wanted.” He told the channel that he had “not (been) prepared to take part in a PR stunt for the Modi government and pretend that all is well”.

Meanwhile, India’s neighbors, Pakistan and China, who partly control parts of the disputed territory, have rejected Indian act of annexation of the disputed Kashmir region and its bifurcation into Union Territories, saying Indian action was illegal and void.

The statements from Islamabad and Beijing came after India put into effect the division of occupied Kashmir into Union Territories (UTs) of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh on October 31, and the lieutenant governors for the new territories took the oath of office in Srinagar and Leh.

But it was the visit of the 30-member delegation of European MEPs that drew criticism both in India and Europe.

Its composition reflected a clear PR exercise on part of the right-wing BJP government. The delegation included six members each from Poland and France, five from the U.K., four from Italy, two from Germany, and one each from the Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain, Slovakia, among others.

Five of the six British MEPs were from the Brexit Party, and all of the six Polish MEPs were from the Justice and Law party, which espouses extreme right-wing policies and is facing sanctions from European Union.

According to a National Herald report, the EU has publicly expressed concern over  human rights implications of the Indian actions and Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini has termed “restrictions on fundamental freedoms” of ordinary people as a matter of deep worry.

“It is crucial that freedom of movement and means of communication are fully restored as well as access to all essential services,” she has said, according to the report.

Domestically, the EU MEPs’ visit has been controversial and faced criticism from Opposition parties.

Indian politician and Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi was stopped from entering Srinagar when he flew into the territory in the wake of August 5 revocation of Kashmir’s autonomy.

“My request, made during the Lok Sabha debate on Article 370, for an All-Party delegation of MPs to visit to see the situation for themselves, has still not been accepted. But members of the European Parliament can travel as our Government’s guests? What #anInsultToIndiaDemocracy!” Shashi Tharoor, a Congress MP, said.

He questioned why the BJP government has allowed international intervention in Kashmir.