Who Is Vijay Thakur Singh -- Indian Diplomat Who Countered Pakistan's Argument At UNHRC

Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry Vijay Thakur Singh on Tuesday asserted that the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status was its sovereign decision and it cannot accept any interference in the country's internal affairs, as New Delhi hit out at Pakistan's "malicious" campaign on the issue and condemned "state sponsored terrorism". 

Singh, in a clear reference to Pakistan, said those who speak on the human rights of minorities in other countries are "trampling upon them at will in their own country. They cry victim when they actually are the perpetrators".

There was a need to call out those who are misusing the United Nations Human Rights Council for "malicious political agenda under the garb of human rights", she said, rejecting Pakistan's charges against India on the Kashmir issue at the 42nd session of the UNHRC.

Singh said the recent legislative measures taken by India in Jammu and Kashmir were within the framework of its Constitution. 

"These decisions were taken by our Parliament after a full debate that was televised and enjoyed widespread support. We wish to reiterate that this sovereign decision, like other legislations passed by Parliament, is entirely internal to India. No country can accept interference in its internal affairs, certainly not India," she said. 

Who is Vijay Thakur Singh? 

• Born on September 18, 1960, Singh is a Secretary (East) in the MEA. 

• An MA in Economics , she joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in August 1985. 

• She then served in various Indian embassies across the globe in various capacities including in Singapore, Ireland, US, Afghanistan among others.

• Singh also served as Director (Pakistan), New Delhi, Deputy Secretary (Pakistan), under secretary (Afghanistan, Pakistan) as a part of the MEA between 1989-1999. Between 2000-2003, she also served as Counsellor, Permanent Mission of India, in New York.

• In the last three decades, Singh served as Indian Ambassador to Ireland between December 2016 to September 2018. 

• She also served as Indian High Commissioner to Singapore between June 2013 to August 2016.

• Singh served as India’s Deputy Chief of Mission in Madrid between February 2006-August 2007. 

• She also held the post of counsellor at the Embassy of India in Kabul.