The Maldivian Parliament on Sunday provided an unlikely setting for a heated exchange between Indian and Pakistani representatives after the neighbouring country's delegation veered off topic during a debate on sustainable development goals to raise the issue of Jammu and
Kashmir.
Addressing the 4th South Asian Speakers' Summit, 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.
In a swift intervention, Rajya Sabha deputy speaker Harivansh Narayan Singh said a country which perpetrated genocide in Bangladesh in 1971 and illegally occupied POK had no moral right to raise these issues internationally. "We strongly object to the raising of internal matters of India at this forum. We also reject politicisation of this forum by raising issues which are extraneous to the theme of this summit," he 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.
He said the forum was only meant to discuss Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the issues raised by Pakistan should not be part of the proceedings. The Indian delegation in the summit is led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
The summit is intended for speakers of the parliaments of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. India is being represented by Birla and Harivansh. 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.
Harivansh responded strongly and said there was a need to “end crossborder terrorism and all kinds of state support for the same” for the interest of regional peace and stability. Responding to Harivansh, 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.
“A country that perpetrated a genocide of its own people has no moral right to speak,” Harivansh said. To this, Marri raised her voice and said, “Pakistan is not a purveyor of terror.”