Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi, while allowing senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad to visit Jammu & Kashmir, said that if requirement arises, he may also visit Jammu & Kashmir. While allowing Azad to visit four districts of Jammu & Kashmir, Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag and Jammu, CJI said that he will not make any speeches or hold any public rally.
The apex court also asked the Centre and J&K administration that normalcy is restored in Jammu & Kashmir while keeping in mind national safety and security. The SC also fixed hearing on the matter challenging abrogation of Article 370 to September 30 for further hearing.
Earlier, Ghulam Nabi Azad had gone to Srinagar twice and was sent back both the times from the airport. Azad has been a very vocal critic of abrogation of Article 370 which made Jammu and Kashmir a part of India without any terms and conditions attached.
Azad had gone to the Kashmir to be a part of the ‘sadness’ that has crept over the state after the government took the “murderous decision” of bifurcating the state and repealing Article 370. He had also insinuated that the Kashmiris are a tradeable commodity as he stated that locals in Shopian who were seen earlier dining out with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were paid for the charade.