Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has commended the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Singh, for bashing Pakistan's efforts to politicize Article 370 at the South Asian Speaker's summit in the Maldives. India and Pakistan had a heated argument on Sunday when Pakistan tried to raise the issue of the abrogation of Article 370 during the summit. Further, VP Naidu stated that the Maldives summit rejecting Pakistan's move to politicize Article 370 proves that internationally, it is looked upon as an internal issue. He also stated that Pakistan has no faith in development and it believes in using terrorism as an instrument of State policy.

Taking to Twitter, the Vice President writes:

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The argument 

India and Pakistan engaged in a major war of words during the South Asian Speakers' Summit in the Maldives after the Pakistani side tried to raise the issue of abrogation of Article 370 provisions in relation to Jammu and Kashmir. The Pakistani Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Qasim Suri, raised the issue of Kashmir and stated, “We cannot ignore the situation of Kashmiris who are facing oppression and injustice.” Reacting to it, Harivansh objected and stated that it is an internal issue which need not be raised in an international forum. He further said that there is a need for Pakistan to end the cross-border terrorism for regional peace. On an international level, except for China, most of the countries have supported India by not wading into the matter, emphasising that it one for India and Pakistan to resolve bilaterally.

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Abrogation of Article 370 

The Modi-government abrogated Article 370 on August 5, revoking the special status of the state and bifurcated it into two Union Territories- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Ever since the government has made the decision, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has repeatedly tried to politicize the issue and bring it to international notice. However, his attempts have proved to be a fail time and again. 

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Imran Khan's attempts to win sentiments over Kashmir issue

Pak PM Imran Khan attempt to force the people of his country to undertake a mandatory 'Stand up with Kashmir' protest on Monday, using his government machinery to even put up barricades so that people couldn't drive and would have to stand. However, his appeal, much like his attempts to internationalise the Kashmir issue, amounted to nought. 

Also read: Jammu and Kashmir: Opposition creates ruckus in Rajya Sabha, chant 'band karo' as Amit Shah begins his statement