Rathore lauds Swaraj's speech, says India will continue to be supportive of Baloch concerns

Lauding External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for making categorical statements on human rights violations in Balochistan, Minister of State for Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Monday said India will continue to be supportive of such people who want to voice their own rights.

"I think our External Affairs Minister has brought it out very clearly driven point home, to the international community, as well as to Pakistan to stop day dreaming about Kashmir. They should rather take care of their territory because there are lot of human rights violation and people are looking for getting their own independence, which perhaps they deserve. India will continue to be supportive of such people who want to voice their own rights. I think she made her point very clearly," Rathore told ANI.

 

Rebutting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's statements, made five days earlier, at the UNGA, where he accused India of "committing brutalities in the Kashmir Valley" and hailed Hizbul-Mujahideen terrorists Burhan Wani as "young leader", Swaraj said "On 21st September, the Prime Minister of Pakistan used this podium to make baseless allegations about human rights violations in my country. I can only say that 'jinke apne ghar shishe ke ho, unhe dusro par patthar nahi fekne chahiye. (those whose houses are made of glass should not throw stones at others). Those accusing others of human rights violations would do well to introspect and see what egregious abuses they are perpetrating in their own country, including in Balochistan. The brutality against the Baloch people represents the worst form of State oppression."

Swaraj also asked Islamabad to abandon its dream of separating any part of India, saying "Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so."

"My firm advice to Pakistan is: abandon this dream. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so," said Swaraj while addressing the United Nations General Assembly.