Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Pakistan has expressed “deep concern” over India top court’s decision to clear the way for a Hindu temple to be constructed at the holy site of Babri Masjid, saying that it failed to “uphold the demands of justice”.
“This decision has shredded the veneer of so-called secularism of India by making clear that minorities in India are no longer safe; they have to fear for their beliefs and for their places of worship,” it said in a statement on Saturday. “A process of re-writing history is underway in India in order to recast it in the image of a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ in pursuance of the Hindutva ideology. It is also fast affecting India’s major institutions.”
Pakistan said that the rising tide of extremist ideology in India, based on the belief of Hindu supremacy and exclusion, was a threat to regional peace and stability.
It demanded of the Indian government to ensure the protection of Muslims, their lives, rights and properties and avoid being “yet again a silent spectator of Muslims becoming the victims of Hindu extremists and zealots”.
It also urged the international community, the United Nations and other human rights organisations in particular, to play their role by restraining India from its pursuit of an extremist ideology and ensure equal rights and protection of the minorities in India.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday said the Indian Supreme Court’s verdict on the Babri Mosque case “apparently reflects the bigoted ideology of Modi government”.
“Muslims are already under a lot of pressure in India and this decision of the Indian court will further increase pressure on them,” said the foreign minister.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman has also condemned Indian Supreme Court verdict to hand over Babri Mosque land to Hindus for construction of a temple. “The Indian Supreme Court’s decision reflects a narrow mindedness,” said Rehman. India has miserably failed to protect the rights of minorities.” The court in its verdict also said the mosque was not built on a vacant land, as claimed by the Muslim petitioners. However, the top Indian court ruled that the destruction of mosque was against the rule of law.
Meanwhile, in the first case, the Indian SC dismissed a plea of Shia Waqf Board against the Sunni Board on a claim to the Babri Masjid. To another case, the Indian apex court ruled, “It will be inappropriate for it to play role of theologian and interpret Hadees. The apex court finds the Nirmohi Akhara’s suit barred by limitation, but says Ramlalla Virajman suit is within limitation period.”
Thousands of paramilitary force members and police have been deployed in the northern town of Ayodhya, where Babri Masjid was razed in 1992 by hardline Hindus who believe the site is the birthplace of Lord Ram.—Reuters
