Pakistan strongly condemned on Tuesday the "senseless vandalisation and burning of 40 houses of" the Muslim community in the Karauli area of India's Rajasthan state by "Hindu zealots" during recent communal clashes, a statement issued by the Foreign Office said.
According to India publication The Wire, the clashes broke out on April 2 "after stones were pelted at a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate the Hindu new year, prompting authorities to clamp a curfew, suspend the internet and deploy 600 police personnel".
Around 35 people were injured in the violence and 46 people were initially taken into custody by police for interrogation, a report by NDTV said, adding that a case was registered against 13 people. Later, the report said, police arrested another 33 people for violating the curfew order.
The reports said houses and shops were set on fire during the episode but did not confirm the number of properties that were damaged.However, in its condemnation, Pakistan said 40 properties belonging to the Muslim community were set ablaze and vandalised by "radical Hindu zealots belonging to the BJP-RSS (Bharatiya Janata Party-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) dispensation with the connivance of local security authorities" during the clashes.
"Equally alarming is the apathy of state machinery which wantonly looked the other way and failed in its basic duty of protecting the lives and properties of its citizens," the statement said, adding that regretfully, minorities in India, especially Muslims continued to live under fear and intimidation.
"The BJP-RSS combine has enabled [the] perpetration of senseless violence against minorities as part of its ‘Hindutva’ agenda marked by hate and majoritarianism," the statement read.
It added that recent history was replete with traumatic instances that reflected the current Indian regime’s deep-seated animosity against Muslims in the country.
"Deafening silence of the BJP leadership and absence of discernible action against ‘Hindutva’ proponents must ring alarm bells across the international community. Rather than relenting in their hostilities against Muslims, the BJP-RSS activists have intensified the atrocities" the statement said.
In this connection, the FO cited the example of Yati Narsinghan, an infamous Haridwar priest, once again "brazenly" calling upon Hindus on April 3 to take up arms against Muslims.
"Pakistan calls upon the international community to take immediate notice of the worrying level of Islamophobia in India and prevail upon Indian authorities to prevent systematic human rights violations against minorities, particularly Muslims, and take effective steps to ensure the safety, security and well-being of all minorities in India," the statement read.
Curfew was bimposed in Rajasthan’s Karauli after communal tensions broke out in the city.
The tensions broke out after Hindu groups took out a bike rally to celebrate the Hindu new year through a Muslim locality in the city.
During the procession, Hindutva songs inciting violence against Muslims were played on speakers.In one such songs, the extremist singers chant “Topee vaala sar jhukaake jay shree raam bolega” (Muslims will bow to Ram and say Jai Shree Ram).The rally drew support on Twitter from the likes of Neha Joshi, Vice President of BJP’s Yuva Morcha, Kapil Mishra, Hindu far-right activist among many others.
Several people called the rally an attempt of “clear incitement”.
Member of Parliament, Asaduddin Owaisi took to Twitter and said, “It seems that the government of Ashok Gehlot has given free rein to the rioters and extremists. In Karauli, if the procession was being taken out for religious reasons, then what was the need for such songs? It is clear that the radical organizations had the backing of the administration.”
Avinash Thavni of the All India Professional Congress said that Amit Shah wants to
“make Rajasthan a laboratory” for hate politics.
“BJP, RSS election preparation started in Rajasthan, Copy-paste formula from Hitler’ s book. Present Muslims as threat for state and Hindus. Keep spreading hatred against them.” wrote a user on social media.
Hawa Singh Ghumaria, the ADG of Law and Order, has said that 36 persons have been detained in connection with the violence, and the situation is now under control.
According to the Police, as many as 35 people have been injured in the clashes.
Cheif Minister of the state Ashok Gehlot on said that strict actions will be taken against people involved in the Karuali clashes.
“Those involved in inciting riots will not be spared and stringent action will be taken against them. Rule of law will be followed in the State,” the Rajasthan CM said.
