Lok Sabha rejects Pak Parliament resolution on Afzal

Rejecting Pakistan Parliament's resolution on execution of Afzal Guru, the Lok Sabha on Friday termed it as interference in India's internal affairs and told it to desist from such acts of support for extremist and terrorist elements. The Lok Sabha passed a resolution asserting that the entire State of Jammu and Kashmir, including the territory under illegal occupation of Pakistan, "is and shall always be an integral part of India". It said that any attempt from any quarter to interfere in India's internal affairs will be met "resolutely and with complete unity" of the nation. "This House totally rejects the resolution passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan on March 14, 2013," said the Lok Sabha resolution read out by Speaker Meira Kumar after concern was raised over the development. Pakistan's National Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution condemning the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and demanded that his body be returned to his family. "The House rejects interference in the internal affairs of India and calls upon the National Assembly of Pakistan to desist from such acts of support for extremist and terrorist elements," the Lok Sabha resolution said. Noting that Pakistan has committed that it would not allow its territory to be used for terrorism against India, the resolution said "only fulfilment of this commitment can be the basis for peaceful relations with Pakistan." Earlier, the issue was raised by senior BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha who urged that the Lok Sabha should unanimously give a befitting reply to the resolution passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan. "I urge that this House (Lok Sabha) should pass a resolution to give a befitting reply to National Assembly of Pakistan's resolution," Sinha said. He said an attempt has been made to provoke the people of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said the government was concerned about the Pakistan Assembly's resolution and urged the Speaker to move the resolution, which was later adopted unanimously. In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley asked the government to reconsider its engagements with Pakistan in light of yesterday's resolution. BJP and other Opposition parties demanded a resolution condemning Pakistan's interference in India's internal affairs and said there cannot be normalisation of ties with that country after its polity gave stamp of approval on the terror attack on Indian Parliament. "Besides interfering in India's internal affairs, the resolution is an official statement by the entire polity of Pakistan endorsing the terrorist attacks," Jaitley said raising the issue when the House met for the day.