KL Desk

Srinagar

A day after Pakistan’s National Assembly condemned the hanging of  Afzal Guru, and demanded to return his body to his family, India Friday reacted strongly by calling it an interference in the internal matters of India.

Parliament adopted a counter resolution and Pakistan to desist from supporting ‘extremist and terrorist elements’. India also cancelled the bilateral hockey series slated for April-May.

The Lok Sabha passed a resolution asserting that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, including the territory under “illegal occupation of Pakistan, is and shall always be an integral part of India”.

It said that any attempt from any quarter to interfere in India’s internal affairs will be met “resolutely and with complete unity” of the nation.

“This House totally rejects the resolution passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan on March 14,2013,” said the Lok Sabha resolution read out by Speaker Meira Kumar after concern was raised over the development.

Pakistan’s National assembly Thursday passed a resolution condemning the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and demanded that his body be returned to his family. The Pakistani resolution had also stressed on the early resolution of Kashmir dispute by means of a referendum on the principal laid down by the United Nations resolutions about it.

“The House rejects interference in the internal affairs of India and calls upon the National Assembly of Pakistan to desist from such acts of support for extremist and terrorist elements,” the Lok Sabha resolution said.

Noting that Pakistan has committed that it would not allow its territory to be used for terrorism against India, the resolution said “only fulfillment of this commitment can be the basis for peaceful relations with Pakistan.”

Earlier, the issue was raised by senior BJP leader and former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha who urged that the Lok Sabha should unanimously give a befitting reply to the resolution passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan.

“I urge that this House (Lok Sabha) should pass a resolution to give a befitting reply to National Assembly of Pakistan’s resolution,” Sinha said.

He said an attempt has been made to provoke the people of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India.

Parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath said the government was concerned about the Pakistan assembly’s resolution and urged the Speaker to move the resolution, which was later adopted unanimously.

In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley asked the government to reconsider its engagements with Pakistan in light of yesterday’s resolution.

Meanwhile India also cancelled the bilateral hockey series slated for April-May this year.

Both Hockey India (HI) and Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) had planned a two-legged bilateral series after seven years.

“The series was cleared by the sports ministry and the home ministry. But yesterday (Thursday) the external affairs ministry informed us that the series has been cancelled,” Hockey India (HI) secretary general Narinder Batra told reporters in New Delhi.

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