India's Ministry of External Affairs has vehemently denounced the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a coalition of Muslim nations, for its criticism of the recent Supreme Court ruling upholding the Indian government's decision to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi delivered strong rebukes, suggesting that the OIC's statement was influenced by an entity known for promoting cross-border terrorism, thus tarnishing the credibility of the organization.
In robustly worded comments, Bagchi referred to the OIC's release as "ill-informed and ill-intended," rejecting the statement issued by the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. He emphasized that the OIC's action, allegedly driven by a "serial violator of human rights" and a persistent supporter of cross-border terrorism, raises serious doubts about the credibility of the organization.
The OIC had expressed "concern" over the Supreme Court verdict, deeming the abrogation of Article 370 "illegal and unilateral" while urging for its reversal. Additionally, it reaffirmed solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their pursuit of self-determination, advocating for international intervention in alignment with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
With 57 member states spanning across continents, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation positions itself as the collective voice of the Muslim world. However, India's strong rebuttal underscores the divergence in perspectives regarding the revocation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir until its nullification by the BJP-led Central government in 2019. This decision also entailed the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
The Supreme Court's recent verdict upheld the Centre's authority to revoke Article 370, affirming the President's prerogative to do so without the erstwhile state's assembly's permission at the Centre's insistence. Furthermore, the court-mandated the Election Commission to conduct assembly polls in the union territory before September 2024.
India's unequivocal rejection of the OIC's stance underscores the complexity of the Kashmir issue, wherein international perspectives often diverge from domestic decisions. The tension between respecting the region's autonomy and the Centre's policy shift remains a contentious point, reflected in both domestic and international discourse.
