NEW DELHI, Feb 15: India has strongly condemned comments on the country’s internal affairs by an inter-governmental organisation of largely Muslim-dominated nations, whose member states include Pakistan.
The Union government on Tuesday described the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) remarks on the ongoing hijab controversy in Karnataka as “‘motivated and misleading,” adding that the 57-member bloc was being “misused by vested interests,” apparently hinting at Pakistan, “for the latter’s anti-India agenda.”
“We have noted yet another motivated and misleading statement from the General Secretariat of the OIC on matters pertaining to India. Issues in India are considered and resolved in accordance with our constitutional framework and mechanisms, as well as democratic ethos and polity,” Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs noted in a statement.
On Monday, the OIC’s General Secretariat had expressed “deep concern” on the hijab controversy, as well as the so-called ‘Dharma Sansad’ event, held in Haridwar in December last year. The OIC, taking note of hate speeches in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar – which is already under police investigation – had expressed concerns over what it called “recent public calls for genocide of Muslims by Hindutva proponents.”
The ministry further said the OIC had a “communal mindset” due to which, it added, the group cannot properly appreciate ‘these realities.’ “OIC continues to be hijacked by vested interests to further their nefarious propaganda against India,” the statement read.
“The OIC General Secretariat calls upon the international community, especially the #UN mechanisms and Special Procedures of the #HumanRights Council, to take necessary measures in this regard,” it posted on Twitter.
“The #OIC General Secretariat further urges once again #India to ensure the safety, security & wellbeing of the #Muslim community while protecting the way of life of its members & to bring the instigators & perpetrators of acts of violence and hate crimes against them to justice,” it said in a subsequent tweet.
India pointed out that this was not the first time the OIC has given a “motivated and misleading statement… on matters pertaining to India.” In tweets by the OIC Secretariat, the Islamic nations grouping had also mentioned about the hijab row in Karnataka, which is being heard in court, and asked the United Nations to look into alleged human rights violation in India linked to Muslims.
(Manas Dasgupta)