PM Asks Muslim Countries to Stay out of Kashmir Issue
Strictly telling the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) to keep its hands off Kashmir, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that OIC has no locus standi to comment on the region that was essentially an internal matter of India.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar on second day of his two-day visit to the state, Singh said that attempts should be undertaken to put to end violence in the state and to engage all opinion makers, political outfits and other institutions in talks aimed for restoring peace, normalcy and development in the state.
Singh’s statement is in response of a statement issued by the 56-nation grouping in New York earlier this month which said that it supported the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the “realisation of their legitimate right of self determination in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and aspirations of Kashmiri people”.
Besides, the statement commented on the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the death of two women in mysterious circumstances in Shopian recently.
Already, the Indian Government has given a strong rejoinder, condemning and rejecting the OIC statement.
A government spokesman said: “It is regrettable that the OIC has commented on India’s internal affairs. We condemn and reject this.”
“Inherent in OIC’s statements and actions on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is a complete inability to understand India’s position,” he added.
It was asserted that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and “it is our (government’s) firm position that the OIC has no locus standi in matters concerning India’s internal affairs”.
