Qureshi hits out at Modi: ‘We cannot stand by and let another Gujarat happen’

Islamabad, April 29, 2020 (PPI-OT): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that “we cannot stand by and let another Gujarat happen (in India)” amid claims that India has created and executed a campaign of Islamophobia, vilifying Muslims. The infamous Gujarat riots, in which around 1,000 people died, took place in 2002 when current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was state chief.

Qureshi said this in his recent letter written to Secretary General of organization of Islamic Cooperation and Foreign Ministers of OIC countries, to draw attention of the Muslim Ummah towards rising intolerance in India against minorities, especially Muslims. He said growing state crimes against Muslims in India have become a serious threat to Muslims living in the country.

The Foreign Minister said Muslims of India are being held responsible for spreading coronavirus in India is the latest incident of hate based on Hindutva ideology of RSS and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. He said and organized malicious campaign against Muslims is going on. He said character assassination of Muslims by holding them responsible for spread of Coronavirus and declaring them as human bombs are few bright examples of this malicious propaganda.

He said social media has been flooded with anti-Islam content. Terminologies like Corona-Jihad, Jihad-COVID-19 and Islamic rebellion are being spread through specific trolls, being run by social media cell of the ruling BJP. The Foreign Minister said hate campaign against Muslims are being run at mass level. He said international and local Media houses are showing attacks on Muslims in streets, shops and Mosques.

He said overseas Indian citizen living in Middle East and other countries are also involved in spreading this venomous campaign against Muslims, where millions of Indian Citizens are doing jobs in these countries. The Foreign Minister said we welcome concerns of OIC against biases of Indian government against Muslims. He called upon OIC to highlight this issue on International forums, including Human Rights commission.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549
Fax: +92-51-4861736
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Website: www.kmsnews.org