The European lawmakers were addressing select media - many, including local Kashmiri newspapers were kept out - after a tour of Srinagar that included a shikara ride on the Dal Lake Dal Lake on Tuesday as they visited Jammu and Kashmir under heavy security and a shutdown in parts of the state.
This is the first time an international team has been allowed in Jammu and Kashmir since the government ended its special status and split it into two union territories in August. The opposition has questioned how foreign MPs have been allowed in the state when politicians in India have been denied the opportunity.
"We, the international delegation, fully support India in its efforts for lasting peace and end of terror... We thank the Indian government and the local administration for their warm hospitality," one of the MPs said.
"We are Indian citizens and we want to be Indian like all other Indian citizens... we want to have development like other parts of country, locals told us," another lawmaker said.
The MPs travelled in bullet-proof vehicles with a security convoy as they were taken from the airport in Srinagar to a luxury hotel in the city on Tuesday. The lawmakers are mainly from far-right parties; only three of the 27 MPs belong to the Left or liberal parties. All of them are visiting India in their private capacity.
After a traditional Kashmiri welcome, the leaders were briefed by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam and police chief Dilbag Singh. The team also interacted with some newly-elected panchayat members and councillors. The group drove through deserted roads of Srinagar, past four detention facilities where dozens of politicians including three former Chief Ministers have been detained.
Many alleged that no prominent civil society group, trade body or mainstream Kashmiri political party could meet the EU lawmakers. Two MPs of National Conference said they were blocked from meeting the group. "We are not here to interfere in Indian politics," one of the leaders said today during the press conference.
The visit ended with a trip to Dal Lake, Srinagar's most prominent tourist draw, where the MPs were seen taking a boat ride. A agency reported that the boating took place near the Centaur Hotel, where more than 30 politicians and activists have been under detention since August 5.
Four of the 27 lawmakers dropped out of the visit and flew back to their countries.MP Chris Davies claimed he was dropped from the trip because he asked for unfettered access to people and places in Kashmir for a fair assessment. The Liberal Democrat MP said: "I am not prepared to take part in a PR stunt for the Modi government and pretend that all is well. It is very clear that democratic principles are being subverted in Kashmir, and the world needs to start taking notice."
Ryszard Czarnecki, an MP from Poland, said,"The international media coverage seems biased. Once we go back to our countries we will inform them of what we saw," he said. Thierry Mariani, a Euro MP for France's far-right National Rally, said, "By calling us fascists, our image has been tarnished. It's better that one should know about us properly before tarnishing our image."
After the MPs met PM Modi on Monday, a statement from his office had said, "Their visit to Jammu and Kashmir should give the delegation a better understanding of the cultural and religious diversity of the region of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh; apart from giving them a clear view of the development and governance priorities of the region."
Opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi have slammed the visit. "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," Nicolaus Fest, one of the MPs was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
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