India slams OIC for references to Jammu and Kashmir in its Makkah summit declaration,says 'it has no locus standi in matters relating to the state'

In a strong reaction, India on Monday rejected the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's reference to Jammu and Kashmir in a communique adopted at its summit meeting in the holy city of Makkah last week.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the OIC has no locus standi in matters relating to Jammu and Kashmir and asserted that the state is an integral part of India. He also said the OIC should refrain from making such "unwarranted references". 

"We categorically reject yet another unacceptable reference to matters internal to India in the Final Communique adopted at the conclusion of the 14th Islamic Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states held at Makkah on May 31," Kumar said.

The OIC is an international organisation consisting of 57 member states, 53 of them Muslim-majority nations. In its final communique at the Makkah summit, the OIC reiterated its support for the legitimate rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and even appointed a special envoy for the state.

READ: India Rejects Discussion Of Kashmir Issue At The Organization Of Islamic Cooperation Meeting

Responding to media queries on a reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the OIC document.

"The OIC has no locus standi in matters relating to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India. It is reiterated that OIC should refrain from making such unwarranted references," Kumar said.

On March 1, then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended the inaugural plenary of the 46th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of OIC in Abu Dhabi on March 1. She was the first Indian minister to address the OIC meeting. India's participation came despite Pakistan's strong demand to rescind the invitation to Swaraj.Pakistan's request was turned down by host UAE, resulting in Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi boycotting the plenary.

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