China’s Kashmir-remark irks India

Chennai: With less than two days to go for the start of the Second Informal Summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and PM Narendra Modi, controversy hit on Wednesday evening with India making it clear that China has no business commenting on the internal affairs of India and that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. New Delhi was angered over a reference to the Kashmir issue in a meeting between President Xi and visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in Beijing. PM Modi is expected to clearly tell President Xi at the informal summit at Mahabalipuram near Chennai on October 11-12 that the revoking of Article 370 and the bifurcation of J&K state into two union territories is an internal matter of India.  

 In a statement, MEA Spok-esperson Raveesh Kumar--in "response to a query from media on reference to Kashmir in the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistan PM Imran Khan"---said, "We have seen the report regarding meeting of Chinese President Xi Jinping with Pakistan's PM Imran Khan which also refers to their discussions on Kashmir. India's position has been consistent and clear that Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India. China is well aware of our position. It is not for other countries to comment on the internal affairs of India."