Srinagar: J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said G20 Presidency is a matter of pride for India and the presence of UN representatives during the three-day Meeting in Srinagar indicates that the world wants India to host such events in Kashmir.

He said Pakistan should arrange food for their people instead of speaking on G20 meeting being held in Kashmir.

“I think the neighboring country ( Pakistan) should arrange eatables for their own people and restore the civil liberties there,” Sinha said during a press conference when he was asked that Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had alleged that India was "abusing" G20 presidency by holding a meeting in Kashmir.

Lt Governor Sinha said that several representatives of the United Nations attended the Meeting in Srinagar.

“India has moved forward and left all these things behind…G20 presidency is a pride for India and several representatives of the United Nations are here, making it evident that the whole world wishes that India should hold such events here,” he said.

India’s Chief G20 Coordinator, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, said Pakistan has no locus standi with holding of G20 meeting in Srinagar.

“Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. The meeting held here has nothing to do with them. Not only UN representatives, five UN organization attended this meeting,” he said

LG Sinha said the third Tourism Working Group Meeting in Srinagar is the biggest gathering of foreign delegates so far.

“57 delegates from 27 countries are participating in the G20 meeting at Srinagar and it is a reflection of India’s strength and our ancient values of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’,” he said.

He said the G20 Meeting in Srinagar will help in attracting more international tourists and also the advisories issued by several countries against visiting Kashmir will be withdrawn.

Sinha said Kashmir is now peaceful with schools and colleges remaining open and allowing youth to focus on career building.

“Today’s Jammu Kashmir is not a land of hartals (strike) or stone pelters. It’s a land of peace and prosperity that a responsible and responsive administration is trying too hard to bring in the lives of the people,” he said.

(With UNI inputs)