India on Wednesday strongly rejected the statement issued by the Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the verdict given by India’s top court on the abrogation of Article 370 in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Without naming Pakistan, External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi that OIC makes such remarks at the behest of a “serial violater of human rights and an unrepentant promoter of cross-border terrorism”. Such statements only undermine OIC’s credibility, he said.
“India rejects the statement issued by the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on a judgment of the Indian Supreme Court. It is both ill-informed and ill-intended,” Bagchi said in response to media queries regarding the statement issued by the OIC Secretariat on the SC verdict. “That OIC does so at the behest of a serial violater of human rights and an unrepentant promoter of cross-border terrorism makes its action even more questionable. Such statements only undermine OIC’s credibility,” he added.
On Monday, the Supreme Court of India upheld the government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 — which granted a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir — and directed the Election Commission to hold Assembly elections in the Union Territory by September 30, 2024. The Court also recognised the fact that Article 370 was not permanent in nature.
After the verdict was announced, the OIC General Secretariat “expressed concern” over the Supreme Court’s judgment to uphold the decision to abrogate Article 370 on August 5, 2019. This is not the first time OIC has made such remarks. In the past, MEA had hit out at the Saudi-based group for similar comments on Kashmir. India continues to reiterate that, “the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is and will remain an integral and inalienable part of India.”
(With inputs from Shailendra Wangu)
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