New York: India has expressed its displeasure over the proposal of the New York State Assembly to declare February 5 as Kashmir American Day under the pretext of Pakistan. India has described it as a worrying attempt to address vested interests. Not only this, India has bluntly said that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, which cannot be separated. India has also spoken to elected representatives in New York State to discuss all matters related to the Indian community.
In fact, the New York State Assembly has passed a resolution requesting Governor Andrew Cuomo to declare February 5 as Kashmir American Day. Please tell that Pakistan celebrates this day as Kashmir Unity Day. India has reacted sharply to this proposal, saying that it is a worrying attempt by vested interests to misinterpret the rich cultural and social fabric of Jammu and Kashmir to divide the people. The proposal has been sponsored by Nadar Saygh, a member of the assembly, and 12 other members.
The resolution in the State Assembly states that the Kashmiri community has overcome every difficulty, has shown firmness and has established itself as a pillar of the New York diaspora communities. It states that New York State strives to support human rights, including freedom of religion, movement and expression of all Kashmiri people, by recognizing diverse cultural, ethnic and religious identities.
India expressed strong opposition
Commenting on this proposal, a spokesperson of the Indian Embassy in Washington said that we have seen the proposal of the New York Assembly on Kashmir American Day. Like America, India is a vibrant democratic country and the pluralistic ethos of 1.35 billion people is a matter of pride. India celebrates its rich cultural fabric and its diversity, including Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, which cannot be separated. We express concern about the vested interests of trying to wrongly show the rich and social fabric of Jammu and Kashmir to divide the people.
India will talk to members of New York assembly
Indian Embassy spokesman, while answering the question related to the proposal, said on Saturday that we will communicate with elected representatives in New York State on all matters related to the Indo-US partnership and the diverse Indian community. The resolution was passed in the New York Assembly on February 3, requesting Cuomo to declare February 5, 2021 as ‘Kashmir American Day’ in New York State.
Pakistan expressed happiness
The Consulate General of Pakistan in New York commended Sayigh and ‘The American Pakistani Advocacy Group’ for passing this resolution. Pakistan continues to make unsuccessful efforts to mobilize international cooperation against India due to the abolition of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019 and dividing it into two union territories as Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. India has told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain and matters related to it are internal matters.
