Geneva: India on Tuesday slammed Pakistan, saying it had presented "false" and "concocted" narrative about Jammu and Kashmir at the UN Human Rights Commission and asserted that the revocation of special status was its sovereign decision and it cannot accept any interference in the country's internal affairs.
Hours after Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's address to the world body, Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry Vijay Thakur Singh targeted Pakistan, saying: "Those who abet, finance and support terrorism in any form on territory under their control are in truth the worst violators of human rights."
"The world is aware that this fabricated narrative comes from the epicentre of global terrorism, where ring leaders were sheltered for years. This nation conducts cross-border terrorism as a form of 'alternate diplomacy'," she said asserting that India "firmly believes in a constructive approach to promote and protect human rights."
"We should call out those who are misusing this platform for malicious political agendas under the garb of human rights. Those who are attempting this speak on the human rights of minorities in other countries whilst trampling upon them at will in their own country. They cry victim when they actually are the perpetrators," Singh said.
Talking about the abolition of special status of Jammu and Kashmir, she said the measure was taken by India "within the framework of its Constitution" to ensure that "these progressive measures will also be fully applicable to our citizens in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh".
The diplomat said these decisions were taken by the Indian Parliament after "a full debate that was televised and enjoyed widespread support. We wish to reiterate that this sovereign decision, like other legislations passed by Parliament, is entirely internal to India. No country can accept interference in its internal affairs, certainly not India".
Earlier, Pakistan demanded an international investigation by the UN Human Rights Council into the situation in Kashmir and urged the world rights body not to remain "indifferent" after India revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status.
On the issue of the National Register for Citizens in Assam, Singh said it was a "statutory, transparent, non-discriminatory legal process mandated and monitored by the Supreme Court of India".
"Any decision that is taken during the process of its implementation will comply with the Indian law and will be in consistent with India's democratic traditions," she said.
(With inputs from PTI and IANS)
