You've already seen the coverage of newslaundry and NDTV on the folks who brought the mostly far-right European MPs to India to meet Modi and go to Kashmir.
Here's a little more. Thread: scroll.in/article/942028…
Here's a little more. Thread: scroll.in/article/942028…
Madi Sharma, of the NGO WESTT, who also calls herself an "international business broker" appears to have done the coordination, but said that the travel and stay would be paid for by the International Institute for Non-Aligned Studies. scroll.in/article/942028… 
The IINS was established by the same people who own New Delhi Times. Madi Sharma, the "international business broker" was also EU Correspondent for the New Delhi Times. scroll.in/article/942028…
Both IINS &New Delhi Times comes from the same people as the Srivastava Group, "one of the fastest growing business houses in the country with interests in Natural resources, Clean energy, Airspace, Consulting services, Healthcare, Print Media..."
scroll.in/article/942028…
scroll.in/article/942028…
The Srivastava Group was recently found connected to the spread of Russian-created disinformation to European MPs under the guise of an EU-focused magazine. politico.eu/article/indian…
So the question to ask is, how did this "international business broker" with connections to a business house accused of spreading disinformation gain access to Modi and manage a Kashmir visit for European MEPs? scroll.in/article/942028…
For more context, see this thread
And reportage from NDTV
MEP asked about Opposition leaders not being allowed into Kashmir.
"I am sure we are not better people than your opposition leaders in any way so I can understand that reaction... There must be a reason for your government to have taken such measures." hindustantimes.com/india-news/we-…
"I am sure we are not better people than your opposition leaders in any way so I can understand that reaction... There must be a reason for your government to have taken such measures." hindustantimes.com/india-news/we-…
"There must be a reason for your government to have taken such measures."
There is. It wants to avoid any political fallout, while insisting that the lockdown is security-based – even as it fails to keep Kashmir safe on the security front.
See thread
There is. It wants to avoid any political fallout, while insisting that the lockdown is security-based – even as it fails to keep Kashmir safe on the security front.
See thread
"We are conscious of the fact that we are being kept away from some people,” Hermann Tertsch, a parliamentarian from Spain, told News18. news18.com/news/india/we-…
"Certificates from an apparently handpicked European delegation will do nothing to paper over the fact that the government first pushed through its decisions by imposing a communications blockade, and has then been slow to lift the curbs and restrictions." indianexpress.com/article/opinio…
"On Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson clarified that the “MEA is not involved & not coordinating the visit.”
The European MEPs met PM Narendra Modi, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, were hosted by the NSA... but MEA is not involved? thehindu.com/news/national/…
The European MEPs met PM Narendra Modi, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, were hosted by the NSA... but MEA is not involved? thehindu.com/news/national/…
This is also the same address as New Delhi Times and the Srivastava Group, which means all are not home currently.
"The “private” visit of 24 predominantly right-wing European Union parliamentarians to Kashmir was planned and largely executed at the direction of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval with the blessings of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Office." huffingtonpost.in/entry/european…
AfD's Nicolaus Fest, one of the MEPs visiting India: "I think if you let in European Union parliamentarians, you should also let in opposition politicians from India. So there is some kind of disbalance, the government should somehow address it." scroll.in/latest/942084/…
Last year @florianeder covered Madi Sharma's involvement in another "unofficial" dodgy delegation to the Maldives.
Considering this has happened yet again & @POLITICOEurope has highlighted disnfo efforts (see above), I wonder what the fallout will be.
politico.eu/newsletter/bru…
Considering this has happened yet again & @POLITICOEurope has highlighted disnfo efforts (see above), I wonder what the fallout will be.
politico.eu/newsletter/bru…
@florianeder @POLITICOEurope Manoj Joshi: "No doubt, some covert agency of the government paid" for the MEPs trip to Kashmir.
His question: Who thought this was a good idea?
"Like many of the other hasty decisions it has taken... it reveals an alarming level of incompetence."
thewire.in/government/eu-…
His question: Who thought this was a good idea?
"Like many of the other hasty decisions it has taken... it reveals an alarming level of incompetence."
thewire.in/government/eu-…
@florianeder @POLITICOEurope .@rohini_sgh takes a preliminary look at what this Srivastava Group actually does. As mentioned above, though WESTT has gotten more coverage, these odd (and oddly empty) business interests for the Srivastava Group speak volumes through silence thewire.in/government/kas…
