Pakistan condemns vandalization, burning of Muslim houses in India

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has strongly condemned the “senseless vandalization and burning” of more than 40 houses of Muslim community in Karauli, Rajasthan by “radical Hindu zealots belonging to BJP-RSS dispensation with connivance of the local security authorities”.

Equally alarming is the apathy of state machinery which wantonly looked the other way and failed in its basic duty of protecting the lives and properties of its citizens, said the Foreign Office said in a statement.

The staement regreted that the minorities in India, especially Muslims continue to live under fear and intimidation. “The BJP-RSS combine has enabled perpetration of senseless violence against minorities as part of its ‘Hindutva’ agenda marked by hate and majoritarianism,” it added.

“Recent history is replete with traumatic instances that reflect the current regime’s deep-seated animosity against the Muslims in India. Deafening silence of the BJP leadership and absence of discernible action against ‘Hindutva’ proponents must ring alarm bells across the international community.”

“Rather than relenting in their hostilities against the Muslims, the BJP-RSS activists have intensified the atrocities. Recently, on 3 April 2022, Mr. Yati Narsinghan, the infamous Haridwar priest, once again brazenly called upon the Hindus to take up arms against the Muslims,” the statement added,

Pakistan calls upon the international community to take immediate notice of the worrying level of Islamophobia in India and prevail upon Indian authorities to prevent systematic human rights violations against minorities particularly Muslims and take effective steps to ensure the safety, security and well-being of all minorities in India.

According to Indian media reports, Hindu activists set houses and other belongings of Muslims on fire in the Indian state of Rajasthan Anti-Muslim violence broke out after Hindu groups took out a bike rally in the name of celebrating the Hindu New Year through a Muslim locality in Karauli city and raised provoking slogans. 

The participants of the rally passing through a Muslim-dominated area pelted stones on Muslim houses and burnt their shops and vehicles to ashes. Hindutva songs inciting violence against Muslims were also played on speakers during the procession.

According to the police, as many as 35 people have been injured in the clashes. Mobile internet remained suspended in the area. After several shops and vehicles were set on fire, the authorities declared curfew in the area on April 4. Rajasthan police arrested 46 people and detained seven others for interrogation following the incident.