Azad to submit SC report to reach out to people in J&K

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has been allowed by the Supreme Court to visit Jammu and Kashmir, on September 16 said it will be a "humanitarian" trip to reach out to common people and he will submit a report to the apex court on his return.

Azad also accused the state and Centre of not being bothered about the people.

The Supreme Court on September 16 allowed Azad to visit four districts -- Srinagar, Jammu, Baramulla, Anantnag -- to meet people but said he cannot hold any political rally.

Azad said he is concerned about lines of communication disrupted in Jammu and Kashmir, but is more worried about the common people and how they are earning a living.

"For those lakhs of people, I had put in this request because the state government has put all representatives, party leaders from Kashmir Valley and also in Jammu under detention," he said, asserting that no BJP leader had been detained.

"They (politicians) cannot raise their voice so who will speak for the people. The government is not bothered about this section, so I put in the request before the Supreme Court," the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha told reporters.

He said he had made efforts to visit Jammu and Kashmir but was sent back both from the Srinagar airport and the Jammu airport.

"I have mentioned in the petition that I am not going to meet family members. I will visit Kashmir on a humanitarian basis," Azad said.

"I am thankful to Supreme Court for permitting me to travel to Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag and Jammu districts. Whatever report I get from there I will present it before the Supreme Court and probably then they can tell the government if there is a way to arrange for food for these people," he said.