India has termed the so-called local elections in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir a complete farce, saying such hollow exercises cannot hide reality. Briefing media in New Delhi this afternoon, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal pointed out that the real happening is that of public protests and wanton killings by Pakistani forces. He said that since June this year, at least 90 civilians have lost their lives in the continuing crackdown. He said that the Pakistani establishment has answered public discontent with bullets,black outs, intimidation and repression, and now seeks to manufacture legitimacy through a hollow electoral exercise. He added that Pakistan must be held accountable and the world should see through Pakistan’s hypocritical lecturing on human rights.
Replying to a query on invitation for BRICS Summit to be held in Delhi in September, Mr Jaiswal said a formal invitation for a bilateral visit to India was extended to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman upon his assumption of office in February this year. He informed that as far as the BRICS Summit is concerned, India has separately extended an invitation to Bangladesh Prime Minister in his capacity as the current Chair of BIMSTEC to attend the outreach session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. He added that the invitation has been extended as per the standard practice being followed in BRICS for the outreach sessions. Other heads of regional groups have also been invited in a similar manner.
On media interaction with former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the spokesperson said that the interaction is being organized by a private media entity. He said the government has no involvement in it and neither does it endorse any views that may be expressed at the forum
