On the global stage of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Indian diplomat Bhavika Mangalanandan delivered a powerful and scathing response to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The Pakistani leader, during his speech at the 79th session of the UNGA, once again raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, urging India to reverse the decision to revoke Article 370. In her blistering reply, Mangalanandan demonstrated her diplomatic prowess and commitment to defending India’s sovereignty.
Table of Contents
Bhavika Mangalanandan’s Response at the UNGA
Bhavika Mangalanandan, India’s First Secretary at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations, didn’t mince words as she rebutted Sharif’s comments. Referring to his address as “hypocrisy at its worst,” Mangalanandan criticized Pakistan’s rhetoric on Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting Pakistan’s deep-rooted issues related to terrorism and political instability.
In her response, she firmly stated, “A country run by the military, with a global reputation for terrorism, narcotics trade, and transnational crime, has the audacity to attack the world’s largest democracy… The truth is that Pakistan covets our territory and has continuously used terrorism to disrupt elections in Jammu and Kashmir, an inalienable and integral part of India.”
Read this also: Reviving the Spirit: Celebrating 10 Years of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
Who is Bhavika Mangalanandan?
Bhavika Mangalanandan is an accomplished Indian diplomat, currently serving as India’s First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations. A 2015 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, she has an impressive academic and professional background. Mangalanandan earned her Master’s degree in Energy Studies from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi in 2011.
Her early professional career saw her working as a Senior Engineer Marketing at Schneider Electric from 2011 to 2012 and as an Assistant Systems Engineer at Tata Consultancy Services between 2007 and 2009.
In addition to her responsibilities as India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Mangalanandan holds the crucial role of First Secretary of counter-terrorism and cyber security at the 1st Committee of the UN General Assembly, which deals with disarmament and international security. Her diplomatic career also includes serving as an Under Secretary at India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Read this also: Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal: Key Drivers or Setbacks in India’s Stock Market
Pakistan’s Kashmir Rhetoric and Mangalanandan’s Counter
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during his 20-minute address at the UNGA, brought up the topic of Jammu and Kashmir, demanding that India reverse its decision to scrap Article 370, which granted special autonomy to the region. He called for a peaceful resolution in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the “wishes of the Kashmiri people.”
In response, Bhavika Mangalanandan exposed Pakistan’s hypocrisy. She emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, and Pakistan has continuously used terrorism as a tool to disrupt the democratic process in the region. She also pointed out the irony in Pakistan lecturing India on democracy and political choices while the country itself has a history of rigged elections and political instability.
Read this also: India Climbs to 39th in Global Innovation Index 2024: A Leap of 42 Spots in Nine Year
“It is even more extraordinary for a country with a history of rigged elections to talk about political choices, that too in a democracy. The real truth is that Pakistan covets our territory. And in fact, has continuously used terrorism to disrupt elections in Jammu and Kashmir, an inalienable and integral part of India,” Mangalanandan said.
The Genocide of 1971 and Pakistan’s Record on Human Rights
Bhavika Mangalanandan didn’t stop at Pakistan’s interference in Kashmir. She brought up the atrocities committed by Pakistan in 1971, referring to the genocide in Bangladesh, and highlighted the ongoing persecution of minorities in the country. She slammed Pakistan for its human rights violations and hypocrisy in criticizing India over issues of intolerance.
She went on to remind the global community that Pakistan harbored notorious terrorists, including Osama Bin Laden, and played a key role in fostering terrorism around the world, particularly targeting India. “We are talking about a nation that for long hosted Osama Bin Laden. A country whose fingerprints are on so many terrorist incidents across the world,” she stated emphatically.
Read this also: Flent Aims to Revolutionize India’s Urban Rental Market With Rs 6.5 Crore Funding
Conclusion: India’s Firm Stand
Concluding her speech, Bhavika Mangalanandan reiterated that India’s position on Jammu and Kashmir is unambiguous and needs no repetition. Despite Pakistan’s repeated attempts to push its narrative, India remains firm in its stance that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country, and terrorism-fueled disruptions will not alter that reality.
In her final remarks, Mangalanandan said, “We know that Pakistan will seek to counter the truth with more lies. Repetition will change nothing. Our stand is clear and needs no reiteration.”
Read this also: India’s Forex Reserves Hit Historic $692.3 Billion, Strengthening Economic Defenses
Bhavika Mangalanandan’s sharp and assertive response at the UNGA has once again highlighted India’s unwavering commitment to protecting its sovereignty and its readiness to confront any false narratives on the global stage. As a rising star in Indian diplomacy, Mangalanandan’s role is pivotal in shaping India’s foreign policy, especially in forums like the United Nations.
[…] Read this also: Indian Diplomat Bhavika Mangalanandan Responds to Pakistan’s Kashmir Rhetoric at UNGA […]
[…] Read this also: Indian Diplomat Bhavika Mangalanandan Responds to Pakistan’s Kashmir Rhetoric at UNGA […]