Right of Reply by India under High Level Segment of the 43^rd Session of the Human Rights Council (24 February-20 March 2020), delivered by Mr. Vimarsh Aryan, First Secretary [Geneva, 26 February 2020]

Madam Vice President,

I have been compelled to take the floor to exercise India's right of reply in response to the mendacious statement delivered by the Pakistani delegation yesterday and the fallacious RoR under this agenda.

2. Human Rights Council is responsible for promotion and protection of all human rights universally, however, quite ironically, what we heard from the Pakistani delegation was an attempt to polarise and politicize this august forum in order to propagate an illegal, immoral and inhuman territorial ambition.

3. I wish to inform this august Council that over the past seven months we have undertaken a series of democratic and progressive legislative reforms in Jammu & Kashmir aimed to further protect the overall human rights of our citizens and to curb Pakistan’s nefarious designs aimed at damaging the syncretic fabric of Indian society. The international community has abundantly witnessed the subsequent hysterical reactions of Pakistan at various fora, that only attempted to create storm in the tea cup, but unwittingly implied that democratic traditions and religious tolerance are not Pakistan’s cup of tea.

4. As the biggest victim of the cross-border terrorism emanating from this pernicious cradle of terrorism we would like to inform this Council that Pakistan is a country whose former President and Prime Minsters including the incumbent have openly acknowledged the support and inter-operational linkages between their state machinery and the UN proscribed terrorist organizations.

5. Pakistan is a country that has considerably shrunk the size of its minority communities since independence, and has subjected Christians, Sikhs, Ahmadis, Hindus, Shias, Pashtuns, Sindhis and Baloch, to draconian blasphemy laws, systemic persecution, blatant abuse and forced conversions.

Madam Vice President,

7. Jammu & Kashmir has been, is and will continue to be an integral part of India and Pakistan should cease to covet it. We ask Pakistan that instead of spewing lies for a self-serving mendacious propaganda, work constructively and devote equal attention to protection and promotion of human rights of minorities in Pakistan. Before preaching others on human rights, Pakistan must remember that terrorism is the worst form of human rights abuse.

8. I can but only advise Turkey to refrain from commenting on the internal affairs of India and develop a better understanding of the democratic practices. I also caution them not to encourage cross-border terrorism.

9. As far as OIC is concerned, it has no locus standi to comment on the internal affairs of India.

I Thank You, Madam Vice President.

*****