Male: India and Pakistan indulged in a heated argument over Kashmir at the 4th South Asian Speakers Summit in Maldives after Pakistan’s Deputy Speaker tried to draw attention of the delegates to “atrocities” in Jammu and Kashmir, veering off topic during a debate on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Addressing the Maldivian Parliament, Pakistan deputy speaker Qasim Suri tried to use the platform to talk about the Kashmir situation following nullification of Article 370, which granted special status to the state. A point of order was raised by India and a strong rebuttal was given by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh. In a swift intervention, Singh said “A country that perpetrated a genocide of its own people has no moral right to speak.”
Pakistan's deputy speaker first raised the issue of Kashmir. “We cannot ignore the situation of Kashmiris who are facing oppression. They are facing injustice,” he said. Singh responded strongly and said there was a need to “end cross-border terrorism and all kinds of state support for the same” for the interest of regional peace and stability. “We strongly object to the raising of internal matter of India at this forum. We also reject politicisation of this forum by raising issues which are extraneous to the theme of this summit,” Singh said.
Continuing his tirade amid strong protests from the Pakistani side, Singh said PoK was neither a country nor a province yet it was being governed through a prime minister, a president and a legislature. Singh added that the forum was only meant to discuss SDGs and the issues raised by Pakistan should not be part of the proceedings.
Responding to Singh, Pakistani senator Quratulain Marri said, “SDGs for women and youth, nothing can be achieved without human rights. The atrocities being meted out on Kashmiris...” This is when she was interrupted by Maldives speaker Mohammed Nasheed, who attempted to put an end to the heated exchange of words. However, sparring by both sides continued even after repeated interruptions by Nasheed with neither side willing to back down.
The summit is intended for speakers of the parliaments of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Indian delegation in the summit is led by Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla.
