Taking a strong objection to the visit by a delegation ofEuropean Union (EU) MPs to Kashmir, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday asserting it is"not an international issue". While questing the rationale behind allowing the foreign team to visit Jammu and Kashmir, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' wondered, "isn't the EU delegation's visit an external invasion of India's independence and sovereignty?"

When Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was still criticised for taking the issue to the United Nations (UN), why were the EU parliamentarians allowed to visit Kashmir? it sought to know.

The Sena, which is an ally of the BJP at the Centre and inMaharashtra, however, praised the Modi government for having won the fightagainst "Pakistan-sponsored terrorism" by revoking Jammu andKashmir's special status under Article 370.

A delegation of 23 European Union MPs is on a two-day visitto Jammu and Kashmir since Tuesday for a first-hand assessment of the situationthere following the revocation of the state's special status.Taking a dim viewof the foreign delegation's visit, the Sena said, "Kashmir is not aninternational issue."

"Pandit Nehru is still criticized for referring toissue to UN. If you don't want UN intervention, then how do you agree to the EUvisit..Isn't the EU delegation's visit an external invasion of India'sindependence and sovereignty?" it asked.While a foreign delegation is allowedto visit Kashmir, political party leaders are still barred from entering thearea, it noted.

"What is the EU delegation going to do during itsvisit?" the Sena asked, and was quick to add that Union Home Minister(Amit Shah) was capable of answering these questions.The editorial said PrimeMinister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah aroused nationalist sentiments with theabrogation of Article 370.

"This is a fight against Pakistan-sponsored terrorismand the Modi government has won it," it claimed.

The Sena said the EU MPs should quietly go away aftervisiting Kashmir as tourists and not spoil the atmosphere there.