Thread by @santhoshd

The more you learn about the @EuroParl_EN (EP) "delegates" visiting Srinagar, the clearer it is that views will be one-sided (forget the irony of Indian MPs being barred from visiting). ANI provided a complete list of the visitors. [Thread]...

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1188758736174604288

Here is a summary of each delegate's affiliations. Only 1 is a member of the EP India Committee (called, confusingly, India Delegation). 3 are substitutes. Only 4 bothered to speak in EP Kashmir discussion (more on this later). Atleast 21 "delegates" are right-wing party members.

There are 2 Alexandra Phillips in the EP. One (@BrexitAlex) is a Brexit Party member and the other (@AlexForEurope) a Green Party member. Given the other UK visitors, most likely it is the former, making it 22 of the 27 with right-wing/populist affiliations.

In a plenary session in Sep'19, the EP discussed the Kashmir issue arising out of the Article 370 abrogation. It begins at 20:10:30 in the timeline of this video.
europarl.europa.eu/streaming/?eve…

In her opening remarks, @TyttiTup, on behalf of Vice President @FedericaMog, focused on lifting restrictions in Kashmir. Not surprisingly, neither Tuppurainen nor Mogherini is part of the "delegation".
eeas.europa.eu/delegations/in…

A summary of the speakers' broad positions. Notice that none of those who spoke against the Indian govt's actions or in support of the Kashmiris' right to self-determination is visiting. Several of the visitors who also spoke framed this as an Indo-Pak or Islamic Terrorism issue.

Depressing to hear inaccurate assertions from these policy influencers
Zimniok- Kashmir has nthng economically to offer
Van Orden- Kashmir should've been in India from the start
Dhamija- Kashmir now has 40 NEW human rights laws
Lopez- Art. 370 provides for suspension of autonomy

An MEP who did speak on Kashmir, @ChrisDaviesLD, had his invitation to visit withdrawn when he insisted on talking to local people freely and to invite journalists, according to @NihaMasih.

https://twitter.com/NihaMasih/status/1189069900150493184

What about WESTT, the "local" NGO who apparently facilitated this visit? WESTT is actually a UK-based organization. Details on WESTT are here:

https://twitter.com/santhoshd/status/1188829662857678848

Prediction: contrary to independent reporting, the "delegation" will say
Kashmir peaceful, all services functioning
Army is fighting Islamic Terrorists
People happy w/ Art 370 abrogation
Human Rights benefits: LGBTQ/Women's Property/Triple Talaq
Internal issue, no EU interference

Addendum: The statement by @ChrisDaviesLD in this @htTweets article referred to all expenses being borne by the "International Institute for Non-Aligned Studies", besides him being invited by Madi Sharma of @WESTT_EU.
hindustantimes.com/india-news/eu-…

IINS provides very little information about its activities. Its programmes page refers to proposals for "future" activity to be conducted in 1998 and 2006.
iins.org/proposed-progr…

The only activity later than that is its apparent participation in the Non-Aligned Movement Summits and UN Human Rights Council meetings, records of which end in 2012.
iins.org/participation/

Its leadership page only mentions Dr. Govind Narain Srivastava who passed away in 1999. Dr. Srivastava is also the founder of the Srivastava Group that includes companies in the Media, Healthcare, Travel, Trading, Publishing and Natural Resources sectors.
iins.org/leadership/

One group co. is The New Delhi Times, which calls itself India's Only International Newspaper. The website's (twitter: @NewDelhiTimes) top Indian story is about CRPF personnel being given "ration allowance" by the Home Ministry.
newdelhitimes.com

How IINS ended up paying for this visit, if Chris Davies accurately recalled the sponsor, and why they are sponsoring it will be interesting to learn.

@Europarl_EN @threadreaderapp unroll