Hindu community outraged

Sets three-day ultimatum for Indian minister to retract statement

KARACHI:

MNA and Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani has issued a three-day ultimatum to India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, demanding the withdrawal of his controversial statement. If the statement is not retracted, a protest will be staged outside the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, he warned.

Vankwani issued the ultimatum during a demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club on Thursday, where members of the Hindu community, led by Pakistan Hindu Council President Prashant Ramanan, condemned Singh's remarks.

The protest was attended by prominent Hindu leaders such as Vikram Rathore, Man Lal, and Krishan Sagar, along with civil society representatives, students, and media personnel.

Carrying banners and placards bearing slogans like "Pakistan Zindabad" and "Sindh is our motherland," the protesters denounced the Indian defense minister's comments. Chanting slogans in support of Pakistan and its armed forces, they also expressed their opposition to the Indian government's stance.

Rajnath Singh recently claimed that while Sindh is not a part of India today, the borders could potentially change in the future, as the Sindhi Hindu community has never fully accepted Sindh's separation, maintaining a deep cultural connection with India. Singh's remarks drew a strong rebuke from Pakistan's foreign ministry and from political leaders of Sindh.

Addressing the protesters, Prashant Ramanan stressed that the demonstration was the first in a series of three protests planned to express their discontent. He called the Indian defense minister's statement "irresponsible" and "factually incorrect," and urged the Indian government to officially disassociate itself from the remarks. He also demanded accountability for Singh's statement.

Krishan Sagar, Chief Coordinator of the Pakistan Hindu Council, reiterated that Sindh is an integral part of Pakistan and stated that the Indian defense minister's statement violated both international law and diplomatic norms.

The protesters announced plans to stage another protest on Saturday at the Teen Talwar intersection in Clifton.

They warned that if the Indian government fails to withdraw the statement within three days, they will stage a demonstration outside the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.