India slams double standards on religiophobia at UN meeting, highlights atrocities on Sikhs, Buddhists & Hindus

<p>
There cannot be "double standards" on religiophobia and combating the issue should not be a "selective exercise" involving only one or two religions but should apply equally to non-Abrahamic religions as well, India has stated at the United Nations.</p>
<p>
India’s stand is that the global community must combat hate and violence not just against Abrahamic religions but against all religions, including Sikhism, Buddhism and Hinduism.</p>
<p>
Addressing a UN meeting to mark the first anniversary of the International Day on Countering Hate Speech, India's Permanent Representative to the UN,  Ambassador T S Tirumurti urged all countries to develop an education system that truly contributes to combating terrorism by promoting the principles of pluralism and democracy.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Religiophobia should not be a selective exercise involving only 1 or 2 religions but should apply equally to phobias against non-Abrahamic religions as well… There cannot be double standards on religiophobia: <a href="https://twitter.com/TSTirumurti?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TSTirumurti</a> <a href="https://t.co/h82KH5oPS8">pic.twitter.com/h82KH5oPS8</a></p>
— INDIA NARRATIVE (@india_narrative) <a href="https://twitter.com/india_narrative/status/1538367688363622400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>
He pointed out that India has been the greatest victim of cross-border terrorism.</p>
<p>
The strong statement came just hours before the blasts at Gurdwara Karte Parwan in Kabul on Saturday in which two persons were killed and seven others injured.</p>
<p>
Tirumurti has pointed out earlier as well that religiophobia can be seen in the increase in attacks on religious places of worship like gurdwaras, monasteries and temples or in the spreading of hatred and disinformation against non-Abrahamic religions in many countries.</p>
<p>
India has said that the shattering of the iconic Bamiyan Buddha by fundamentalists, the terrorist bombing of the Sikh gurudwara in Afghanistan where 25 Sikh worshippers were killed in March 2020 and the destruction of Hindu and Buddhist temples call for condemning such acts as well.</p>
<p>
Tirumurti highlighted the fact that India has over the centuries offered a safe haven to all those who seek refuge in the country, whether it be the Jewish community or Zoroastrians or Tibetans or from its own neighbourhood.</p>
<p>
“It is this underlying strength of our nation that has withstood radicalisation and terrorism over time,” he pointed out.</p>
<p>
It is with this sense of history that India has continued to play a defining role to combat radicalisation and terrorism, and promote tolerance and inclusion, Mr Tirumurti said.</p>
<p>
“Aberrations are dealt with within our legal framework and we do not need selective outrage from outsiders, especially when they are self-serving – even communal in nature, and pursuing a divisive agenda,” he said.</p>
<p>
He emphasised that education has an important role to play in combating radicalisation, violent extremism and terrorism.</p>
<p>
He said that the greatest bulwark against intolerance and hatred is embracing the principles of democracy, where there are necessary checks and balances and where any aberration is addressed within the confines of the rule of law.</p>
<p>
"A society based on pluralism, where every religion is respected, is a sine qua non of tolerance and harmony,” Tirumurti said.</p>
<p>
"India has embraced both these principles – democracy and pluralism. And we call on all countries to adhere to these principles to ensure that intolerance is addressed within a Constitutional framework,” the Indian envoy said.</p>