A 27-member European Union (EU) delegationarrived in Kashmir on Tuesday amid questions raised by the opposition on theirtour at a time when other politicians are not allowed to visit the state. 

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, AllIndia Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi and othersquestioned the government over letting the delegation visit Kashmir. "MPsfrom Europe are welcome to go on a guided tour of Jammu & Kashmir whileIndian MPs are banned & denied entry. There is something very wrong withthat," Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet.

Weeks after Article 370 was abrogated from J&K, whichended the special status given to the state and divided it into two UnionTerritories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, a delegation led by Rahul wasstopped at the Srinagar airport and asked to return to Delhi. Later, formerchief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was also detained at the airport while tryingto enter the region.

Priyanka, on the other hand, termed the government's move toinvite the delegation to visit Kashmir as "unique nationalism". Takingto Twitter, she wrote, "Allowing European MPs to travel and intervene inKashmir while returning Indian MPs and leaders from the airport itself. Suchunique nationalism it is."

Owaisi said that most of the MPs who are visiting Kashmir"suffer from Islamophobia".

"Fantastic Choice of MEPs who suffer from a disease -Islamophobia (Nazi lovers) are going to Muslim majority Valley. Sure peoplewill welcome them by 'Ware Paeth Khoshh Paeth'," read an excerpt fromOwaisi's tweet.The Congress also slammed the delegation's visit beingfacilitated by the government.

Congress MP Manish Tewari said in a tweet: "Indian MPsshould perhaps consider getting elected to European Parliament to be able tovisit J&K that govt claims was integrated into India without firing asingle bullet. Was J&K enemy/alien Territory before 5 August 2019? Has itnot been an inalienable part of India since 1947?"Meanwhile, Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) chief and former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti, who is under housearrest since Article 370 was abrogated on August 5, also questioned the Centreover EU parliamentarians visit to Kashmir and asked if they are allowed tovisit the state, why wasn't Rahul Gandhi allowed to do so.

In a tweet posted on behalf of her daughter Iltija, Muftisaid, "If scrapping Article 370 integrated J&K into India, why is ShriRahul Gandhi barred from visiting Kashmir? Instead, a group of far-right &fascist leanings EU MPs is allowed by GOI. Your ticket to Kashmir is possibleonly if you're a fascist with a visceral hatred for Muslims."

Mufti further said that the government was in a"lose-lose" situation in any scenario and also questioned as to whythe delegation should not be allowed to meet former chief ministers FarooqAbdullah, his son Omar and herself.

On Monday, the EU delegation met Prime Minister NarendraModi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and discussed the situationprevailing in Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370.

In a statement, PM Modi expressed hope that members of thedelegation will have a fruitful visit to various parts of the country,including Jammu and Kashmir.