"At Behest Of Serial Human Rights Violator": India Calls OIC Remarks On SC's Article 370 Verdict "Ill-Informed"

On Wednesday (13 December), India firmly dismissed the comments made by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which expressed unease about the Supreme Court's decision to affirm the 2019 repeal of Article 370 from the Constitution. This article had previously granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, criticised the OIC's actions as "ill-informed and ill-intended." He suggested that these actions were being carried out under the influence of a persistent human rights violator and a relentless promoter of cross-border terrorism, without naming Pakistan.

"India has dismissed the remarks made by the General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) regarding a ruling from the Indian Supreme Court, labeling them as both ill-informed and ill-intentioned," stated Bagchi in response to a media question, according to Indian Express.

He further criticised the OIC saying that it did so "at the behest of a serial violator of human rights and an unrepentant promoter of cross-border terrorism" which makes its action "even more questionable". The spokesperson for the MEA went on to say that such declarations only serve to damage the credibility of the OIC.

The General Secretariat of the OIC voiced its apprehension on Tuesday about the Supreme Court's decision, simultaneously reiterating its support for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir, according to a statement.

On Monday, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court unanimously endorsed the Modi government's decision from August 2019 to revoke the special status of the former State of Jammu and Kashmir. This decision, a landmark ruling, involved the abolition of the contentious Article 370 of the Constitution.

The bench of five judges, which included Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, and Surya Kant, issued three separate yet agreeing judgements.

They commanded the reinstatement of statehood "as soon as possible," established a deadline of 30 September 2024, for the Assembly elections in the Union Territory of Jammu-Kashmir, and affirmed the legitimacy of the Centre's choice to establish the Union Territory of Ladakh from the former State.