Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi along with a delegation of opposition leaders today were prevented from visiting Srinagar after they landed there to assess the situation in the Kashmir Valley, where restrictions have been imposed since the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and divided the state into two union territories on August 5.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, KC Venugopal and Anand Sharma were other Congress leaders in the delegation. Trinamool Congress (TMC)’s Dinesh Trivedi, Tiruchi Siva of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury and Communist Party of India’s D Raja were other members of the delegation. Loktantrik Janta Dal’s Sharad Yadav, Manoj Jha of Rashtriya Janata Dal, Majeed Memon (Nationalist Congress Party) and D Kupendra Reddy of the Janta Dal (Secular) were also a part of the delegation.

Read highlights here:

6:55 pm IST ‘Our detention undemocratic, unconstitutional’: Opposition leaders Delegation of opposition leaders that went to Srinagar and was sent back from Srinagar airport in Budgam, writes a letter to Budgam District Magistrate: We record our strong objection to the basis of our detention, which prima facie is undemocratic and unconstitutional.





6:45 pm IST ‘Clear that situation in J&K isn’t normal’: Rahul Gandhi “Some days ago I was invited by Governor to visit J&K.I accepted the invitation. We wanted to get a sense of what people are going through, but we weren’t allowed beyond the airport. Press people with us were mishandled, beaten. It’s clear that situation in J&K isn’t normal”, said Rahul Gandhi.





6:20 pm IST ‘Stories we heard from passengers present in our flight were moving’: Ghulam Nabi Azad Congress leader GN Azad after opposition delegation returns from Srinagar: We weren’t allowed to go to the city, but the situation in J&K is terrifying. The stories we heard from the passengers of Kashmir present in our flight, would bring tears even to a stone.





6:11 pm IST Delegation of opposition leaders arrives at Delhi airport Delegation of opposition leaders comprising Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, D Raja, Sharad Yadav, Manoj Jha, Majeed Memon, and others that had gone to SRINAGAR & was sent back, arrives at Delhi airport. :ANI





6:08 pm IST ‘1,500 primary schools, 1,000 middle schools opened in J-K’: Rohit Kansal “Nearly 1,500 primary schools and 1,000 middle schools were opened, although attendance continues to be very thin. Education Department will attempt to operationalise primary and middle schools,” said Rohit Kansal.





6:05 pm IST ‘Security forces maintaining state of high alert’: J-K Principal Secretary “It has been observed that from Aug 17 onwards, there has been a steady decline in incidents. However, the threat of cross-border terrorism continues to exist and relevant security forces are maintaining a state of high alert,” Rohit Kansal, J-K Principal Secretary, Planning Commission said.





5:55 pm IST ‘Day-time restriction lifted from 69 police stations in Valley’: J-K Principal Secretary Rohit Kansal In the midst of the political drama, Rohit Kansal, J-K Principal Secretary, Planning Commission, said: Day-time restrictions have now been lifted from 69 police stations across the Kashmir valley. In Jammu division, the corresponding figure is 81 police stations without any day-time restrictions.





5:45 pm IST ‘I invited him out of goodwill, he started with his politics’: J-K Governor “I had invited him out of goodwill but he started doing politics, it was nothing but a political action by these people. Parties should keep in mind the national interest at these times,” said J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik on Rahul Gandhi and opposition leaders visiting Srinagar.





5:30 pm IST ‘No need for him now’: J-K Governor on Rahul Gandhi’s visit Jammu & Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Rahul Gandhi visiting Srinagar: There is no need for him now, he was needed when his colleague was speaking in the Parliament. If he wants to aggravate the situation and come here to repeat the lie he told in Delhi, it is not good. :ANI





3:00 pm IST Rahul Gandhi, other opposition leaders not allowed in J-K; told to go back Delegation of opposition leaders comprising Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, D Raja, Sharad Yadav, Manoj Jha, Majeed Memon, and others that had reached Srinagar has been sent back.





2:25 pm IST Rahul Gandhi arrives at Srinagar airport Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrives at Srinagar airport.





1:52 pm IST Rahul Gandhi to assess the ground situation in Kashmir today Opposition party’s Rahul Gandhi to assess the ground situation in Kashmir today. Shri @RahulGandhi is leading a delegation of opposition leaders to assess the ground situation in Kashmir today.



This visit is an attempt to review the reality in the region after the abrogation of Article 370.#RahulGandhiWithJnK — Congress (@INCIndia) August 24, 2019





12:31 pm IST Opposition delegation plans to meet people in Jammu and Kashmir According to PTI, Opposition delegation plans to meet people in Jammu and Kashmir to assess the situation after region’s special status was removed and restrictions imposed to prevent violent protests.





12:23 pm IST Department of Information and Public Relations’ tweets points out that the leaders’ visit will “violate restrictions” Department of Information and Public Relations’ tweets points out that the leaders’ visit will “violate restrictions” that are valid in many areas and that leaders must understand that currently “priority” should be given to maintaining peace, order and preventing loss of human lives.





12:11 pm IST We are not going to break the law: Ghulam Nabi Azad “The political parties which are going under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi are responsible political outfits and all of us are responsible leaders. We are not going to break the law. The issue of J-K, Ladakh is worrisome,” Ghulam nabi Azad said while expressing concern about no statement being issued by the Home Ministry on the situation, reports news agency ANI.





12:05 pm IST If the situation is normal, why are they objecting to our visit?: Manoj Jha “If the situation is normal, why are they objecting to our visit? And if they are objecting, they should accept that the situation is not normal. We don’t need security,” RJD leader Manoj Jha said, reports news agency ANI.





12:01 pm IST Opposition leaders D Raja, Sharad Yadav,Majeed Memon and Manoj Jha onboard flight to Srinagar Opposition leaders D Raja, Sharad Yadav,Majeed Memon and Manoj Jha onboard flight to Srinagar.Opposition delegation including Rahul Gandhi are visiting Jammu and Kashmir today. Opposition leaders D Raja, Sharad Yadav,Majeed Memon and Manoj Jha onboard flight to Srinagar.Opposition delegation including Rahul Gandhi are visiting Jammu & Kashmir today. pic.twitter.com/a5gxyy2i2o — ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2019





11:59 am IST Ghulam Nabi Azad was not allowed to enter the state and stopped twice, both in Srinagar and Jammu So far, the government has not allowed any political leader to enter the state ever since Article 370 was abrogated. Leaders of regional parties, including former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, have been put under house arrest. Ghulam Nabi Azad was not allowed to enter the state and stopped twice, both in Srinagar and Jammu. Earlier, D Raja was also stopped at Srinagar airport and sent back.





11:45 am IST Rahul Gandhi last week asked PM Modi to quell apprehensions about Kashmir Rahul Gandhi last week asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to quell apprehensions about Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik dismissed his concerns and invited him to travel to the state. He even offered a plane to Gandhi.





11:34 am IST Congress leader Rahul Gandhi onboard flight to Srinagar Congress leader Rahul Gandhi onboard flight to Srinagar. A delegation of Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, are visiting Jammu and Kashmir today. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi onboard flight to Srinagar. A delegation of Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, are visiting Jammu & Kashmir today. pic.twitter.com/ixBkANgksg — ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2019





11:15 am IST Since Monday, restrictions eased in areas falling under jurisdiction of 50 police stations From early morning Friday, vehicles of the administration went around, making announcements in the city regarding the restrictions, which were lifted, in part, and in a few places only on Monday. Since Monday, the administration had eased restrictions in areas falling under the jurisdiction of 50 police stations of the total 111 police stations across Kashmir.





11:05 am IST Centaur hotel turns into detention centre in Srinagar, houses 50 top leaders At least 50 top mainstream politicians including former ministers and legislators of the National Conference, the People’s Democratic Party, and the People’s Conference are housed in the Centaur hotel, according a government officer posted at SKICC.





10:58 am IST Rahul Gandhi leaves from his residence Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi leaves from his residence. A delegation of Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, will visit Jammu and Kashmir today. Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi leaves from his residence. A delegation of Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, will visit Jammu & Kashmir today. pic.twitter.com/p8bXdufnCy — ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2019





10:57 am IST Jammu and Kashmir administration asked political leaders to cooperate and not visit Srinagar The Jammu and Kashmir administration asked political leaders to cooperate and not visit Srinagar. It added they would be putting other people to inconvenience. “They would also be violating restrictions that are still there in many areas. Senior leaders should understand that top priority would be given to maintaining peace, order and preventing loss of human lives,” the administration tweeted.





10:53 am IST Restrictions were reimposed in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley on Friday Restrictions were reimposed in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley on Friday after authorities feared large-scale protests after Friday prayers and rumours swirled about a big march to the office of UN Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).





10:43 am IST If things normal then why political leaders are under house arrest?: Ghulam Nabi Azad Ghulam Nabi Azad who is part of Opposition delegation which will visit J&K today: On one hand Govt says situation is normal, and on the other hand they don’t allow anyone to go.Never seen such contradictions. If things normal then why political leaders are under house arrest? Ghulam Nabi Azad who is part of Opposition delegation which will visit J&K today: On one hand Govt says situation is normal, and on the other hand they don't allow anyone to go.Never seen such contradictions. If things normal then why political leaders are under house arrest? pic.twitter.com/xRlD8DNGuU — ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2019



