Srinagar, Jan 16 (IANS): Former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has hit out at the government for not including Russia in the foreign diplomats' delegation that visited Kashmir earlier this month.

"Russia is an old friend, it had to give a statement that it was not invited in the group of foreign diplomats that visited Kashmir," Azad said.

He said only those member countries were invited that will forward the government's narrative.

He alleged that only those ministers and politicians met with the foreign delegation in Kashmir who have already held meetings with the government in Delhi.

"They allowed only those politicians to meet with the delegation who have been to Delhi and held talks with them," Azad said.

Azad, who is on a one-day visit to Jammu, said after the abrogation of Article 370 thousands of crores of rupees were lost in the tourism, fruit, and transport sectors in Jammu & Kashmir.

"The upcoming delegation of ministers is coming to see the destruction caused by economic losses after abrogation of Article 370," Azad said.

More than 30 ministers of the Modi government are reportedly visiting Kashmir later this week.