Don't attempt to disturb peace process: J&K govt warns ahead of Rahul Gandhi's visit

Hours after the reports that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi would be visiting Kashmir to review the situation, the Jammu and Kashmir government warned against political leaders visiting the Valley, saying that senior political leaders should not disturb the peace process in the Valley by their visits. Rahul Gandhi on Friday accepted Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik's offer to visit Kashmir to review the situation after the abrogation of provisions of Article 370 and according to the reports, the Congress leader and nine other Opposition leaders are expected to visit the Valley on Saturday. "At a time when the government is trying to protect the people of Jammu & Kashmir from the threat of cross border terrorism and attacks by militants and separatists and gradually trying to restore public order by controlling miscreants and mischief mongers, attempts should not be made by senior political leaders to disturb the gradual restoration of normal life," the J&K government said. Earlier, J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik had invited Rahul Gandhi and even offered an aircraft to him to visit Kashmir to review the situation after the Congress leader showed apprehensions on the government's claims on no violence in the state, following its decision to scrap Article 370 provisions.