Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is on a three-day visit to Kashmir following a nod from the Supreme Court, on Sunday visited Anantnag district in south Kashmir where he met people at a government housing colony.

Azad was scheduled to meet people at the Dak Bungalow, which has been declared a jail, and had to change the venue after authorities refused him permission, a local Congress leader said.

“Azad was at the housing colony from 11am to 3pm. Many people came to meet him,” the leader, who asked not to be named, said.

He said the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha was strictly following the Supreme Court’s orders with respect to his visit to the Valley but the authorities were creating hurdles. The leader also alleged that during Azad’s stay in Srinagar on Friday, security personnel did not allow people to meet him.

Azad had arrived here on Friday on his maiden visit following the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and after three failed attempts that saw him turned back from the airport.

On Saturday, Azad had visited the Lalla Ded maternity hospital and enquired about the welfare of patients.

He also visited the Tourist Reception Centre here and interacted with members of the Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association.

He is scheduled to visit Baramulla on Monday.