India lashes out at Pak, rejects OIC statement on Jammu and Kashmir

New Delhi: India has lashed out at Pakistan for "wasting time" of the UN Human Rights Council and said Pakistani leaders have themselves admitted the fact that it has become a "factory for producing terrorists". 

"Pakistan has ignored that terrorism is the worst form of human rights abuse and the supporters of terrorism are the worst abusers of human rights. The Council should ask Pakistan why the size of its minority communities such as Christians, Hindus and Sikhs has drastically shrunk since independence .....," India's first secretary Pawan Kumar Badhe said (on Tuesday, March 2) using India's right to reply to statements made by Pakistan and OIC at the 46th Session of the United Nations Human Right Council (UNHRC).

"The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we are conducting this Session. However, Pakistan’s deliberate misuse of this august forum for its malicious propaganda against India, aimed at diverting the attention of the Council from its own serious violations of human rights, has remained a constant," he said.

Outright rejecting the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) statements on the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, he said, "It has no locus standi to comment on matters related to Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral and inalienable part of India". 

Badhe also said: "It is regrettable that OIC continues to allow itself to be exploited by Pakistan to indulge in anti-India propaganda".

The First Secretary said, "The members of this Council (UNHRC) are well aware that Pakistan has provided pensions to dreaded and listed terrorists out of State funds and has the dubious distinction of hosting the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the United Nations".

He said, Pakistan, a country in dire economic situation, "will be well advised to stop wasting time of the Council and its mechanisms, stop state-sponsored cross-border terrorism and end institutionalized violation of human rights of its minority and other communities".  He said, UNHRC should ask Pakistan why the size of its minority communities such as Christians, Hindus and Sikhs has drastically shrunk since independence and why they and other communities such as Ahmadiyyas, Shias, Pashtuns, Sindhis and Baloch, have been subjected to "draconian blasphemy" laws, systemic persecution, blatant abuses and forced conversions. 

"Holy and ancient sites of religious minorities in Pakistan have been attacked and vandalized daily," he said.

Enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and, arbitrary detentions of those who try to speak against the establishment are rampant in Pakistan and have been carried out by the State’s security agencies with impunity, he said.

Badhe also said, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the key suspect in murder of journalists Daniel Pearl, was allowed to go scot free. 

"Disappearances and killings of Baloch Human Rights defenders show that Human Rights defenders are not safe, even after they leave Pakistan. Idris Khattak, a human rights defender who was picked up in November 2019 continues to be in secret detention," he added.

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Days before UK Parl to debate India's 'farm laws', Jaishankar talks to counterpart Raab

New Delhi: In what is seen as a crucial development in diplomatic parlance, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar held tele talks with British Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab on Wednesday.

"Nice talking to UK Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab. Reviewed the progress in our bilateral cooperation. Also discussed regional and UN issues," the Minister tweeted.

Importantly, the interaction comes days before the British House of Commons is likely to take up for debate the issue of press freedom and safety of protesters in India on March 8, Monday. The debate has been scheduled in response to an e-petition which has been endorsed by over 100,000-signatories. 

Reports said the 90-minute debate will be held at Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament complex in London and will be opened by Scottish National Party lawmaker. 

Of course, the debate will also have a response or reply from an incumbentminister. The Social Network has gone viral with immediate responses to Dr Jaishankar's tweets.
Of course, there is all speculation of what all transpired between two foreign ministers.
"Extradite Mallya and Nirav Modi along with all Khalistanis if they want good relations with India," went a missive.
".....Crush the Khalistanis in the UK," went another tweet.

MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava has said earlier that any protests (against three farm reform laws)must be seen in the context of India’s democratic ethos and polity, and the ongoing efforts of the Government and the concerned farmer groups to resolve the impasse.

He also had maintained that the "temporary measures with regard to internet access" in certain parts of the National Capital Region were therefore understandably undertaken "to prevent further violence."

It may be mentioned that the American Government had backed three farm laws. It also said that any protest must be seen as a "hallmark of any thriving democracy".

Protesting farmers at Delhi border points since November last year have been demanding the central government to repeal three farm laws and provide legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.

In fact, the criticism of the Modi government on farm laws has almost turned global from certain quarters. Even Barbadian pope star Rihanna Fenty had taken to social media to criticize the government over the farmers' struggle, which the government has repeatedly insisted is India's internal matter.

Violence and utter callousness on the Republic Day on Jan 26 at the Red Fort premises marked the protest. A number of activists have been charged and some of them have been arrested as well. 

But some of those tweets and remarks came from surprising quarters. They included international celebrities and lawmakers from countries like Canada and the United Kingdom. Even Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg has had her say.

Meena Harris, a niece of US Vice President Kamala Harris, tweeted: "We all should be outraged by India's internet shutdown and paramilitary violence against farmer protesters."

India’s Foreign Ministry responded that, before people rush to comment on such matters, "we would urge that the facts be ascertained and a proper understanding of the issues at hand be undertaken."

It added: "The temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible."

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