Colombo (Sri Lanka) | A parliamentary delegation from India thwarted Pakistan’s attempt to raise the Kashmir issue at a UNICEF event in Sri Lanka on Tuesday, reminding that it was India’s internal matter.
This comes two days after India scuttled an attempt by Pakistan to raise the Kashmir issue during the South Asian Speakers’ Summit in the Maldives, saying Islamabad should put an end to all state support to terrorism, which is the “biggest threat” to humanity.
Indian delegation comprised of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal, reiterated India’s stand on the Kashmir matter, that it was an internal issue.
After India’s presentation on ‘Child Rights’, the floor was given to the Pakistani side.
However, instead of sticking to the agenda of the forum, Pakistan’s Member of National Assembly from PML-N, Mehnaz Akber Aziz, started by saying, “I would like to draw your attention to the situation in Kashmir today. Curfew continues for 30 days.”
BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal raised objections and asserted that India has rectified a law which was within its constitution.
Gogoi reminded the Pakistani delegation of their country’s internal situation related to human rights, the plight of minorities and legislations such as the “blasphemy law”.
Meanwhile, the chair intervened to check the Pakistani delegation and asked it to stop using the forum to serve a political agenda.
Later, in a video statement, Gogoi said it was “highly unfortunate” that at a child rights conference organised by the UNICEF, the Pakistani delegation tried to internationalise the matter of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We firmly reminded them that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India and India is the largest democracy in the world and as stakeholders in the Indian democracy, an Indian voice will be heard, not that of a vested interest, not that of a foreign country, and not certainly that of Pakistan,” he said.
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