New Delhi:
The Maldives Parliament witnessed a massive debate between India and Pakistan delegates inside on Sunday after the Pakistani representatives raised the Kashmir issue on a forum meant for sustainable development goal. So much so that Speaker of Maldivian Parliament Mohamed Nasheed tried to control the situation but in vain.
War of words b/w Indian and Pakistani parliamentarians in the Maldivian Parliament.
— TheViralLines News (@theViralLines) September 1, 2019
Qasim Suri, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan raises #Kashmir
India's Harivansh N. Singh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, responds with Pak sponsored cross-border terrorism pic.twitter.com/IkyFJhLexP
Maldives Parliament was hosting the fourth south Asian speakers summit on achieving the sustainable development goal with India being represented by Harivansh Narayan Singh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Pakistan by Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Suri and Pakistan Senator Qurat ul Ain Marri.
As a discussion was underway on the summit in Maldivian Parliament, Pakistan delegate Qasim Suri chose to raise the issue of Kashmir before the house.
"We cannot ignore the oppression of Kashmiris," said Qasim Suri as the house descended into protest.
The India delegate then lodged a strong protest against Pakistan's move.
"We strongly object to raising of the internal matter of India in this forum. We also reject the politicisation of the forum by raising issues which are extraneous to the theme of the summit," Harivansh Narayan Singh said.
Earlier in April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April said state sponsorship of terrorism is the biggest threat faced by humanity as he called upon world leaders to unite to combat the menace.
"Terrorism is not just a threat for a country, but to the entire civilisation. It is very unfortunate that people are still making the mistake of distinguishing between good terrorists and bad terrorists. State sponsorship of terrorism is the biggest threat the world is facing today," he said in an indirect reference to Pakistan.
Modi made the comments in his address to the Maldivian Parliament (the Majlis) in Male as he landed in the island nation on his first foreign visit after being re-elected as Prime Minister.
