India sharply responded to Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) over their remarks on Jammu and Kashmir at the 55th Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Speaking at the high-level segment, India’s First Secretary Anupama Singh dismissed Islamabad’s comments as baseless propaganda. The exact contents of Pakistan and OIC’s statements were not immediately known, but Singh said the “propaganda reeks of envy” and added that India has no “desire to dignify it, but will make a few points to dismantle it with facts."
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‘Must be living in La-La Land’
Singh made it clear that Jammu and Kashmir “was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.” She said no rhetoric or propaganda by Pakistan can change the fact that the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India was “completely legal and irrevocable, in accordance with the Indian Independence Act of 1947 and international law.”
She added that the only real issue pending is Pakistan’s illegal occupation of Indian territory and urged Islamabad to vacate the areas “under its forcible occupation."
Referring to democratic participation in the region, Singh pointed out that high voter turnout in general and assembly elections shows that people of Jammu and Kashmir have rejected terrorism and violence and are choosing development and democracy.
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She also referred to the Chenab Rail Bridge, calling it the world’s highest railway bridge, inaugurated last year in Jammu and Kashmir. “If the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge, inaugurated in Jammu and Kashmir last year, is considered fake, then Pakistan must be living in ‘La-La’ land," she said.
Singh further remarked that perhaps Pakistan finds it hard to believe that Jammu and Kashmir’s developmental budget is more than double the recent bailout package it sought from the IMF.
Responding to criticism on democracy, she said it was "hard to take lectures on democracy from a country where civilian governments rarely complete their terms," according to ANI.
The 61st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council is being held from February 23 to 31.
