Four Senators write to Mike Pompeo on Kashmir, CAA and NRC; Walls being built in Gujarat on Trump visit

Donald Trump, gujarat
Walls are being built in Gujarat to hide slums on Trump visit
Donald Trump, gujarat
Walls are being built in Gujarat to hide slums on Trump visit

In the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to India, it was reported that four Senators, who have described themselves as “longtime friends of India”, have written a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to get an assessment of the situation in Kashmir as well as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizenship (NRC).

The letter written on February 12 is co-signed by Democrats Chris Van Hollen (Maryland) and Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Illinois) and Republicans Todd Young (Indiana) and Trump ally Lindsey Graham (South Carolina).

“We write as longtime friends of India regarding some of the troubling actions taken by the current government,” the Senators write. “India has now imposed the longest-ever internet shut down by a democracy, disrupting access to medical care, business, and education for seven million people. Hundreds of Kashmiris remain in ‘preventative detention’, including key political figures.”

The letter asks for an assessment in 30 days of the number of individuals detained in connection with Article 370 and “whether detainees endure torture or other forms of mistreatment”.

While on the Indian side of things, roads have been started to be built, palm trees are planted along the streets but the most striking feature is the building of wall apparently to hide slums. The Gujarat government is leaving no stone unturned to impress U.S. President Donald Trump on his visit on 24th february.

Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra, however, tried to clarify things by claiming that the “decision to build a wall to prevent encroachment on the road was taken two months back” and has nothing to do with the visit of U.S. President.

“It is not correct to link building of the wall to the VIP visit. After my visit to the area, we had decided in consultation with slum dwellers build a wall to prevent encroachment and secondly to save trees which were getting damaged,” Mr. Nehra said.

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is making their full efforts to ensure that no stray dogs or cattle should be seen on the route from the Ahmedabad international airport to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium, better known as the Motera stadium, where the high profile Kem Chho Trump (Howdy Trump) event will be held.

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