India Rejects Statement By Organization Of Islamic Cooperation On Article 370 Verdict, Says Statement Issued At Behest Of Serial Human Rights Violator

The Ministry of External Affairs today rejected the Statement issued by the Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) against the Judgment of the Supreme Court on Article 370 of the Constitution.

"India rejects the statement issued by the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on a judgement of the Indian Supreme Court. It is both ill informed and ill intended. 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”, said Arindam Bagchi, the official spokesperson of the Ministry, in an obvious reference to Pakistan.

The OIC is the second largest organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states over four continents, including Pakistan. It claims to be the "collective voice of the Muslim world" and it endeavours to "safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world".

The OIC had issued a statement yesterday expressing concern over the Judgment of the Apex Court of India, which according to them upheld the "unilateral actions taken by the Indian government". The OIC reiterated its call to reverse "all illegal and unilateral measures taken since 5 August 2019 aimed at changing the internationally-recognized disputed status of the territory".

"The General Secretariat reaffirms its solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their quest for the right of self-determination and reiterates its call on the international community to enhance its efforts to resolve the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions", the statement issued by OIC said.

Yesterday, Pakistan claimed that the Supreme Court's verdict has "no legal value". "International law doesn't recognise India's unilateral and illegal actions of 5 August 2019. The judicial endorsement by the Indian Supreme Court has no legal value. Kashmiris have an inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant UN SC resolutions," caretaker Foreign Minister of Pakistan Jalil Abbas Jilani said.

Pakistan also said that the people of Kashmir will react like the people of Gaza. “Ultimately their reaction would be like that of the people of Gaza,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had termed the Judgment "historic". He also penned a blog about the Judgment on his personal website.