NEW DELHI (INDIA) – India has slammed UN rights experts for raising concerns over constitutional changes made in the state of Kashmir, where Muslims are a majority and separatists are fighting for independence over the past three decades.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said in a statement released by the two special rapporteurs on minority issues and freedom of religion or belief on Thursday called into question their neutrality and objectivity.
They said a decision by the Indian government last year to bring to an end the autonomy of the state and enact new laws could restrict the political participation of Muslims.
In the report, they said Muslims and other minority groups also stood to lose on issues such as employment and land ownership.
The spokesman said Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India and changes to its status were enacted by parliament. One such change makes the laws in force in the rest of the country would apply to Kashmir residents too, giving them the same legal rights.
“This press release calls into question the larger principles of objectivity and neutrality that the SRs (special rapporteurs) are mandated by the Human Rights Council to adhere to,” he said in a statement.
He said the special rapporteurs’ statement was released at a time when India hosted global diplomats in Kashmir. Officials said the visit was aimed at showcasing efforts to restore normalcy a year after the state lost its special status.
The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the special status of Kashmir was taken away to try to completely integrate the region with the rest of India and boost economic growth.
In two separate attacks in Srinagar, the main city in Kashmir, militants killed three policemen, hours after security personnel gunned down three militants in a raid in a village, police chief Vijay Kumar said.
The separatist movement seeking independence has claimed more than 50,000 lives as per government estimates.