'Living in La-La Land': India's brutal reality check to Pakistan at UN over J&K progress

India slammed Pakistan’s remarks on Jammu and Kashmir, calling them propaganda and reaffirming the region’s legal accession.

La-La Land remark: At the 55th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Indian envoy Anupama Singh, dismissed the allegations as “baseless” and driven by envy, asserting that Pakistan must be living in “La-La Land” if it fails to acknowledge the development and progress taking place in Jammu and Kashmir. She also reiterated New Delhi’s long-standing position that Pakistan should vacate areas under its illegal occupation.

While the specific content of Pakistan and the OIC’s statements at the high-level session was not immediately disclosed, India’s First Secretary Anupama Singh on Wednesday dismissed them as envy-driven propaganda. She said New Delhi had no intention of lending credibility to such claims but would lay out facts to firmly rebut them.

J&K’s accession legal and final, India tells UN

Addressing the session in Geneva, Singh asserted that Jammu and Kashmir “was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India,” stressing that its accession in 1947 was lawful and final under the Indian Independence Act and international law. She maintained that no amount of rhetoric or propaganda from Pakistan could change that reality.

She argued that the only unresolved matter is what India describes as Pakistan’s illegal occupation of parts of its territory, urging Islamabad to vacate areas “under its forcible occupation.”

High voter turnout, development push cited to counter criticism

Pointing to the strong voter participation in recent general and Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said the turnout reflected people’s rejection of terrorism and violence and their commitment to development and democratic governance.

Taking a swipe at Pakistan’s criticism of infrastructure claims, she remarked that if projects such as the Chenab Rail Bridge touted as the world’s highest railway bridge are dismissed as fictitious, then Pakistan must be living in “La-La Land.” She also drew a comparison between Jammu and Kashmir’s development budget and Pakistan’s recent IMF bailout package.

Responding to comments on India’s democratic credentials, Singh said it was difficult to accept lessons on democracy from a country where elected governments seldom complete full terms, ANI reported.

The 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council is underway from February 23 to 31.