India calls out "double standards" of UN member states, says it's time they condemn hatred against non-Abrahamic religions

India condemned in the strongest terms the recent "cowardly attack" at the Sikh temple in Kabul, Afghanistan

NewsBharati    21-Jun-2022 11:13:28 AM
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New Delhi, June 21: India has slammed the United Nation member states for showing double standards on atrocities against non-Abrahamic religions. It also said that it's time that the UN condemns hatred against non-Abrahamic religions.
 
This came after India condemned in the strongest terms the recent "cowardly attack" at the Sikh temple in Kabul, Afghanistan. On Saturday, Islamic State attacked Karte Parwan Gurdwara in which two people were killed and several others got injured. Gunmen had tried to storm the temple on Saturday morning and all were killed after a standoff that lasted several hours.
 
At UN, India calls out
 
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), India's Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, Ambassador TS Tirumurti raised concerns about the "selective" efforts to combat religiophobias. "It's time that UN Member States condemned hatred against non-Abrahamic religions as well and stop from being selective in combating religiophobias. There cannot be double standards on religiophobias if you truly want to combat hate," he added.
 
 
The Indian envoy said hate speech is the antithesis of peace, tolerance and harmony. "Unfortunately, we continue to witness a rising trend in hate speech. This was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. India joined 12 other countries to issue a cross-regional statement on 'infodemic' in June 2020."
 
He said India has time and again emphasised that combating religiophobia can never succeed if it continues to be exclusionary and remains restricted to one or two religions only, while completely ignoring the rise in hatred and discrimination against non-Abrahamic religions including Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism.
 
Also Read: ISKP attacks gurudwara in Kabul
 
The permanent representative said India believes that a society based on principles of democracy and pluralism provides an enabling environment for diverse religions and communities to live together. "Today, every one of the world's major religions has a home in India, making it a nation of unparalleled diversity. India has, over centuries, provided refuge to all, whether Zorastrians or the Jewish community or Tibetan Buddhists or many from our own neighbourhood," Ambassador Tirumurti said.
 
"Through embracing both democracy and pluralism, India has promoted a culture of tolerance and respect for all religions and cultures - under our overarching constitutional framework. Aberrations are dealt with within our legal framework and we reject selective outrage from outside, especially when they are motivated and pursuing a divisive agenda as we just heard today, references against India by OIC," he added.
 
Also Read: India issues e-visas ‘on priority’ to over 100 Sikhs, Hindus in Afghanistan after Kabul attack
 
India's permanent representative said there can be no doubt that terrorism is the antithesis of all religions and added New Delhi has continued to play a leading role to combat both radicalization and terrorism. Stating that the UN has the responsibility to ensure that countering hate speech and discrimination should not be limited to a select few, the envoy concluded his address by quoting Mahatma Gandhi: "I want cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any."