Early Times Report
srinagar, Aug 7: India has decided to boycott the Commonwealth Speakers conference to be held in Pakistan next month after Islamabad did not invite Speaker of J&K Legislative Assembly Kavinder Gupta.
Except J&K Speaker, Pakistan has invited Speakers from all states of India in the nine-day conference starting September 30, calling J&K a "disputed territory.
India while hitting back on Friday announced that none among the invited Speakers of the country will participate in the event.
"There cannot be any compromise on status of Jammu and Kashmir which is integral part of India. Today we held a meeting of the Speakers from nearly 31 states and we have decided that if Jammu and Kashmir is not invited, we will not attend the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meet in Pakistan," Gupta told Early Times.
He said it is happening for the first time that Pakistan was "given a befitting reply by India on poking its nose in Jammu and Kashmir's affairs."
Reports said the Pakistan would be hosting the 61st Commonwealth Conference in Islamabad between September 30 and October 8, and this year's theme is 'Renewing the commitment to pluralism and inclusive democracy in the Commonwealth'.
As many as 53 Commonwealth countries, including India and Pakistan constitute the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), and the members the London-based group, consisting of the heads of Parliaments of constituent countries and constitutional heads of their respective state legislatures meet annually.
The controversy between India and Pakistan has surfaced at a time when New Delhi blames Islamabad for terror attacks in Gurdaspur and Udhampur. |
