Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. PHOTO: FILE
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday condemned the Indian government for the violent crackdown in New Delhi on students and activists protesting against India's contentious new citizenship law.
"Concerned about the brutal & indiscriminate use of force by the state on Indian Muslim students of Jamia Millia Islamia & Aligarh Muslim University, protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Bill," FM Qureshi said in a tweet.
Concerned about the brutal & indiscriminate use of force by the state on Indian Muslim students of Jamia Millia Islamia & Aligarh Muslim University, protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Bill.
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) December 16, 2019
More than 100 students and activists have been injured in the Indian capital as they clashed with police who used tear gas and baton charges to disperse demonstrators at the Jamia Millia Islamia University.
Dozens injured as students clash with Delhi police in citizenship law protests
Sunday was the fifth straight day of protests across the country and the third day running in the capital against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) enacted earlier this month.
FM Qureshi said the use of force against protesters was evidence that the "Modi Government continues to curb & undermine the rights of minorities in accordance with Hindutva Supremacist ideology."
"Illegal Annexation of Kashmir, Babari Masjid, Citizenship Amendment Bill which excludes Muslims are all targeted towards subjugation of Minorities," said the foreign minister.
The Modi Government continues to curb & undermine the rights of minorities in accordance with Hindutva Supremacist ideology. Illegal Annexation of Kashmir, Babari Masjid, Citizenship Amendment Bill which excludes Muslims are all targeted towards subjugation of Minorities. https://t.co/nIw0KmPVkm
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) December 16, 2019
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government claimed the new law would save religious minorities such as Hindus and Christians from persecution in neighbouring Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan by offering them a path to Indian citizenship.
But critics, including the United Nations, say the law does not make the same provision for Muslims and weakens India’s secular foundations.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ