India will boycott the Commonwealth Parliam-entary Union (CPU) meeting in Islamabad next month in protest against Pakistan not inviting the Speaker of Jammu & Kashmir Assembly.
“A meeting of Speakers of all States on Friday unanimously decided that India will boycott the meeting of the CPU if the Speaker of the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly is not invited,” lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan told reporters after the meeting on Friday. Also, India will take up the issue with the UN against Pakistan’s stand.
The meeting of Speakers from Commonwealth countries is being hosted this time by Pakistan in Islamabad from September 30 to October 8. Except the J&K Assembly Speaker, all the Speakers of legislative Assemblies in India have already received the invites.
Mahajan said this was against a rule in the CPU (Commonwealth Parliamentary Union) in which all the Speakers, who are members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), have to be extended an invitation to the CPU meeting.
Mahajan said when India took up the matter with Pakistan, they cited an old rule of 1951-57 regarding their having raised an issue in the UN Security Council for not inviting Jammu and Kashmir Speaker. “ This has lost its t relevance now, “ she said, adding, “We (31 Speakers) reviewed this issue and felt this was wrong. We reject this decision (of Pakistan). We are writing to the CPA Chairperson that if J and K Speaker is not invited then India will not attend the meeting or change the venue (for us to attend).”
Welcoming the decision Jammu and Kashmir Speaker Ravindra Gupta, who attended the meeting, thanked the Speakers saying it was a question of unity and integrity of the country. Calling Pakistan a terrorist State, he said Pakistan has done this (not inviting Jammu and Kashmir Speaker) “deliberately” and added this decision is a strong message to that country.
“The unilateral decision of Pakistan in not inviting J&K CPA branch to 61st CPA conference violates provision of CPA constitution. We have demanded Pakistan should forfeit its right to host conference and venue should be shifted to another country,” said Vikas Swarup, spokesperson for Ministry of External Affairs.