Kashmir is an Integral Part of India, Says Swaraj in UNGA Speech

Sushma Swaraj is expected to take matters forward from PM Modi’s first public speech after the Uri attack.

Suhasini Krishnan
World
Updated:
Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj addresses the UNGA in the Manhattan borough of New York, US, on 26 September 2016. (Photo: Reuters)
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Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj addresses the UNGA in the Manhattan borough of New York, US, on 26 September 2016. (Photo: Reuters)
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  • Sushma Swaraj criticised Pakistan for not taking responsibility for the fight against terrorism
  • Swaraj said it’s time to find out who the sponsors of terrorism are
  • Swaraj’s Pakistani counterpart responded by questioning why Kashmir is on UNSC agenda if India cares about it
  • Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said the Ministry of External Affairs had drafted a good speech
  • Baloch leader, Brahamdagh Bugti, praised Swaraj’s speech
  • Congressman Randeep Surjewala and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut criticised Swaraj’s speech

Sushma Swaraj hit against Pakistan for not taking responsibility to fight against terrorism.

Shiv Sena leader, Sanjay Raut too criticised Swaraj’s speech.

Nothing will happen by giving speeches at UN. We can’t even name Pakistan.Why? Nawaz Sharif names us.

Baloch leader, Brahamdagh Bugti, however, praised her speech.

This is a good step and we hope this continues.

Sushma Swaraj said that terrorism is an act against humanity and it was time to ask who is funding terrorism. Watch the video below.

Unlike Congress Spokesperson, Randeep Surjewala’s criticising remarks on Swaraj’s UNGA speech, senior Congress leader, Shashi Tharoor said the MEA had crafted a well-written speech for Swaraj.

Like all MEA drafted speeches it was a well crafted and well written speech. I think the thrust of the message was a good one and that Indians can stand behind the message.

Watch Sushma Swaraj talking on terror financing on the video below:

Watch The Quint’s discussion on Sushma Swaraj’s UNGA speech live below

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Swaraj for her “firm and effective articulation” in speech to the United Nations General Assembly.

Pakistan Responds to Swaraj’s UNGA Address

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan responded to Swaraj’s UNGA speech asking that if Kashmir is an integral part of India, then why is it on the agenda of the security council.

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Congress Says Sushma Swaraj Shied Away from Calling Pak a ‘Terror State’

Congress voiced disappointment over Sushma Swaraj’s address saying that she shied away from calling Pakistan a “terror state”.

Congress spokesperson, Randeep S Surjewala wrote in a tweet that Modi government’s offensive against Pakistan is “unreal, misleading and hollow”.

Congress said that the Modi government’s response was too “meek”.

We Extended Friendship to Nawaz Sharif, in Return we Got Uri and Pathankot Attacks: Swaraj

“A year has passed since I stood at this hallowed podium to address members of the international community”, she said in her address.

She addressed the issue of terrorism that has flung the whole world in a crisis.

Terrorism is the biggest violation of the human rights. It is a crime against humanity itself. But it is time to ask who finances these terrorists, who arms them and who provides sanctuaries.

Hinting at Pakistan’s involvement in providing a safe haven to terrorism, she said:

We will not be able to win against terrorism by differentiating between your terrorism and mine, we need to unite and forget our prejudices to have a strategy against terrorism. If any nation refuses to join this strategy we must isolate them

Taking direct hits at Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, she said:

When our government invited PM Nawaz Sharif we did not keep any conditions. We have in fact offered friendship, extended wishes for his health and well being and what did we get in return? Pathankot, Bahadur Ali, Uri! Let me make it clear Kashmir is an integral part of India. Pakistan should stop dreaming about it.

She also spoke about the threat of environmental degradation and climatic changes.

We have already seen nature go towards the unnatural, in the form of tsunami, cloudbursts. We must curb reckless consumption and adopt a harmonious lifestyle with nature. 

Sushma Swaraj has begun her address to the United Nations General Assembly.

External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj has arrived at the UN headquarters to deliver her address to the 71st United Nations General Assembly.

Sushma Swaraj arrives with her team at the UN headquarters. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@MEAIndia)

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived in New York on Sunday for her address to the 71st United Nations General Assembly.

Her speech will be the third in line at the assembly, after Oman and Bahrain, and is likely to begin around 7:30 pm (IST). The United Nations website will be broadcasting her speech live.

There is an air of anticipation around Swaraj’s speech as it comes after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s speech at the UNGA last week, and in the tense aftermath of the Uri terror attack.

Sharif strongly criticised India’s handling of the situation in Kashmir, but stayed mum on the Uri attack.

In his speech at the UNGA, Sharif said:

We demand the immediate release of all Kashmiri political prisoners...and abrogation of India’s draconian laws. Indian brutalities (in Kashmir) are well-documented...Pakistan will share a dossier of systematic violations of human rights committed by Indian forces.

He invoked Hizbul Mujahideen Chief Burhan Wani’s name during the speech and called him a “young leader” whose life was cut short by the Indian forces.

However, his speech was met with strong rebuttals from India.

Eenam Gambhir, India’s First Secretary in the Permanent Mission to the UN, called Pakistan the “Ivy League of terror,” while BJP member MJ Akbar said Pakistan was run by a war machine.

MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that in Swaraj’s speech, one can expect “a continued focus from India on the theme of terrorism, which is today undoubtedly the single biggest challenge to international peace and security”.

Swaraj is expected to take matters forward from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first public speech after the 18 September Uri attack during the BJP’s national council meet at Kozhikode in Kerala.

PM Modi appealed to the citizens of Pakistan to question their government, and said the killing of the 19 soldiers would not go in vain.

(With agency inputs)

(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)

Published: 26 Sep 2016,12:24 PM IST

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