Ghulam Nabi Azad Held At Srinagar Airport, Told To Return

Congress MP and former Jammu and Kashmir CM Ghulam Nabi Azad along with Kashmir Congress chief Gulam Ahmed Mir were detained at Srinagar airport upon their arrival there on Thursday. They were then asked to return back to Delhi.

Azad is expected to return back to Delhi on a 3.30 pm flight.

The two leaders were stopped from entering Kashmir over security concerns and as a preventive measure, according to media reports.

Reports indicate that authorities are preventing political leaders from interacting with Kashmiris, which might escalate tension in the valley.

Azad had earlier criticized National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for a video showing him eating with Kashmiris on the streets. “Paise dekar aap kisiko bhi saath le sakte ho (You can take anyone with you by giving them money),” Azad alleged.

Over 500 people have been detained or arrested since the lock down, according to media reports.