PM questions Modi’s silence over anti-Muslim rhetoric

Imran says it is high time international community take note of Indian govt’s extremist agenda

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday questioned the silence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over calls for the genocide of Indian Muslims by the far-right leaders belonging to Hindutva outfits and urged the international community to act against extremist agenda of the Indian government.

“The continuing silence of the Modi govt on the call at an extremist Hindutva summit in Dec for genocide of minorities in India, especially the 200 mn Muslim community, begs the question whether the BJP govt supports this call,” Imran said in a tweet.

The continuing silence of Modi govt on the call at an extremist Hindutva summit in Dec for genocide of minorities in India, especially the 200 mn Muslim community, begs the question whether the BJP govt supports this call. It is high time international community took note & acted

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 10, 2022

The speeches that had propagated violence against Muslims were made at a three-day ‘hate speech conclave’ organised by the controversial Hindutva leader Yati Narsinghanand in Haridwar city of India’s Uttarakhand state last month.

Annapurna Maa, secretary of Hindu Mahasabha had called on Hindus to buy weapons and prepare for Muslim genocide. “If we become soldiers [and] kill 2 million Muslims then we’ll be victorious," Maa had said.

Read: Javed Akhtar 'appalled' by Modi's silence over auction of Muslim women in India

The premier asked whether the silence of the Modi government on the issue meant the endorsement of this anti-Muslim rhetoric. "It is high time the international community took note and acted," he added.

Under the extremist ideology of the BJP Modi govt, all religious minorities in India have been targeted with impunity by Hindutva groups. The extremist agenda of the Modi govt is a real and present threat to peace in our region.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 10, 2022

According to the PM, during the government of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), all religious minorities living in India were targeted by Hindutva groups with impunity. "The extremist agenda of the Modi-led government is real and a present threat to peace in our region," he added.

‘Calls for Muslim genocide could spark civil war’

Former naval chief and senior military commander Arun Prakash has warned that India could descend into civil war as political leadership of the country had failed to condemn the recent genocide calls against Muslims by Hindu hardliners.

In an interview with The Wire, former admiral Arun Prakash said the silence of the country’s political leadership over calls for Muslim genocide and ethnic cleansing is “ominous … (and) there should be outright condemnation and firm action”.

He added that if this continues “there’s bound to be a counter” and “the next step could be conflict”. Asked if this meant India could face a civil war, the former admiral replied: “Yes, indeed”.