CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yecury on August 9 said he and his CPI counterpart D. Raja were detained at the Srinagar airport and denied entry into the city.

They had gone to Srinagar to meet their party colleagues.

“They showed us a legal order which did not allow any entry into Srinagar. It stated that even escorted movement int the city is not permitted due to security reasons. We are still trying to negotiate with them,” Mr. Yechury told PTI over phone.

Both had written to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on August 8, informing him of their visit and requesting him to facilitate their entry.

“Both of us had written to the Governor requesting him that there should be no hurdles to our visit... despite that we have been detained. I wanted to meet my ailing colleague and our comrades who are here,” said Mr. Yechury.

On August 8, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad was detained and sent back to Delhi from the Srinagar airport.