Sarfraz Hussain, the Press Counsellor of the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, said that Indian PM Narendra Modi is “enflaming the hatred of Muslims in India” while the world looks away. He urged the international community not to remain silent.
Hussain shared a column by Washington Post journalist Rana Ayyub, wherein she remarks that “India is not a healthy democracy.”
Calling upon Int. community not to remain silent, @RanaAyyub warns that "a much darker narrative is starting to define Modi's India." "India is not a healthy democracy."
— Sarfraz Hussain (@SarfrazInfo) May 11, 2023
Modi is enflaming hatred of Muslims in India, as the world looks the other way https://t.co/L8ENZqvjRB
Pakistan Objects to G20 Meetings in J&K
The Pakistani diplomat’s comments come as India is set to host the 3rd G20 Tourism Working Group meeting under its G20 Presidency in Srinagar from 22 to 24 May.
On another note, Pakistan, which is not a part of the G20, had expressed strong objections at the holding of different events of the G20 summit in Srinagar and Leh, saying that this was an attempt by India to legitimise its illegal control of the disputed region.
India has gone ahead with its planned schedule despite Pakistan cautioning the G20 countries last year against accepting New Delhi’s proposals to host some meetings of the bloc in Jammu and Kashmir.
A statement released by the Pakistani Foreign Office said the move was in “sheer disregard of the UN Security Council resolutions and violations of the principles of the UN charter and international law.”
Meanwhile, India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a media briefing, “These places have always been an integral and inalienable part of India and they are ours. I will only say these meetings are being held in every region. This is our natural response.”
Pakistan opposes G-20-linked events in J&K https://t.co/zVr5BbTfz2
— Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) June 26, 2022
Rising Concerns Regarding India’s Democracy
Ayyub’s article cited by Hussain emphasised that while the Indian government was using G20 as a stage to present itself as the “Mother of Democracy”, the domestic reality is different as the country has been oppressing its 220-million-strong Muslim minority.
“As foreign dignitaries and celebrities continue to visit India ahead of the G-20 summit, they must not turn a blind eye to what is happening,” Ayyub wrote.
The article hinted that although the Western world seeks to partner with India to tackle the rise of China, it is unacceptable to remain silent on the state of affairs in the country.
There have been growing apprehensions regarding the treatment of minorities in India. The US Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) had recently recommended listing India as a country of particular concern for engaging in particularly severe violations of religious freedom. The Indian government dismissed the report as “biased.”