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(a) whether the New Hampshire legislature in U.S.A. has passed a resolution on Kashmir;
(b) if so, the details in this regard;
(c) whether the Union Government have taken up the matter with the U.S. Administration; and
(d) if so, their response thereto?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DIGVIJAY SINGH)
(a) Yes.
(b) In February 2003, the State Legislature of New Hampshire in the United States adopted a non-binding Concurrent Resolution requesting the United States Congress to `initiate hearings to discern all relevant facts and circumstances attendant to the Kashmiri conflict so as to facilitate its just, peaceful, and rapid resolution`.
(c) Legislatures in the United States function independently of the U.S. Administration. However, Government has taken steps through its diplomatic missions in the United States and the Indian-American community to apprise the members of the New Hampshire legislature as also law makers in the United States Congress and other state legislatures of the true facts relating to Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan`s sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. There have been no reports of similar moves in other state legislatures and the United States Congress.
(d) Does not arise.