India slams OIC for 'unwarranted' comments on delimitation exercise in J&K

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday hit out at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for its "unwarranted" comments on the delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir and asked the group to refrain from pursuing its "communal agenda" at the behest of one country, in an apparent reference to Pakistan.
India's sharp reaction came shortly after the OIC criticised New Delhi over the delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We are dismayed that the OIC secretariat has once again made unwarranted comments on the internal affairs of India. As in the past, the Government of India categorically rejects the assertions made by the OIC secretariat on the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral and inalienable part of India," read a statement by the external affairs ministry.
"The OIC should refrain from carrying out its communal agenda vis-a-vis India at the behest of one country," said external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
The delimitation commission, tasked with redrawing parliamentary and assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, notified its final report earlier this month.
Not the first time
This is not the first time that the OIC has made comments that have received a sharp response from India.
Last month, India slammed the OIC for inviting the All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman to its foreign ministerial meeting in Islamabad.
A few weeks later, the OIC passed a resolution in which it alleged human rights violations in J&K, and said that lasting peace would not be achieve until the 'Kashmir issue' was settled. The MEA labeled the resolution as "absurd" and said that the references to India were "based on falsehoods".

In February, the group had expressed deep concerns over what it called "continued attacks on Muslims in India" and called upon the international community to take necessary measures. India condemned the OIC for the "motivated and misleading statement".
(With inputs from agencies)