United Nations: India has told the United Nations that there cannot be “double standards” on religious fear and combating it should not be a “selective exercise” involving only one or two religions, but similar against non-Abrahamic religions. should be strictly applicable.
Ambassador TS India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Tirumurti Said on Friday that India has been the biggest victim of terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism.
He called upon the countries to develop an education system that truly contributes to counter terrorism by promoting the principles of pluralism and democracy.
“As we have repeatedly stressed, combating religious fear should not only be a selective practice involving one or two religions, but should equally apply against non-Abrahamic religions. Till this is not done, such international days will never achieve their objectives. There cannot be double standards on religiophobia.’
Tirumurti was speaking at a high-level event to mark the celebration of the first anniversary of the International Day for Hate Speech and Advance Inclusion, Non-Discrimination and the Role of Education to Address the Root Causes of Peace.
A few hours before the blasts in Gurdwara Karte Parwan Two people, including a Sikh, were killed and seven others were injured in Kabul’s Bagh-e-Bala area on Saturday.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a tweet that the “cowardly attack” on Gurdwara Karte Parwan should be condemned in the strongest terms.
India has consistently called for concerted efforts by the international community to combat hatred and violence not only against Abrahamic religions but against all religions including Sikhism, Buddhism and Hinduism, including at various UN platforms.
On several occasions at the United Nations, Tirumurti has pointed out that contemporary forms of religious fear can be seen in an increase in attacks on religious places such as gurudwaras, monasteries and temples, or the spread of hatred and propaganda against non-Abrahamic religions. Country.
India has said that the sabotage of the iconic Bamiyan Buddha by fundamentalists, the terrorist bombing of a Sikh gurdwara in Afghanistan where 25 Sikh worshipers were killed in March 2020 and the destruction of Hindu and Buddhist temples are also reasons to condemn such acts and religions. invokes.
“The rise of contemporary forms of religious fear, especially anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist and anti-Sikh fear is a matter of grave concern and requires the attention of the United Nations and all member states to address this menace. Only then can we address such topics.” But we can bring more balance in our discussions,” Tirumurti said earlier this year.
Speaking at a high-level event organized by the Permanent Mission of Morocco and the United Nations Office on Responsibility for Genocide Prevention and Security, Tirumurti underlined that India’s multicultural edifice has made it a safe haven for asylum seekers over the centuries. In India, whether from the Jewish community or Parsis or Tibetan or from our own neighbourhood.
“It is the inherent strength of our nation which has faced radicalization and terrorism over a period of time,” he said.
Tirumurti said it is in this spirit of history that India has continued to play a decisive role in combating bigotry and terrorism and promoting tolerance and inclusion.
“Mistakes are dealt with within our legal framework and we do not need selective outrage from outsiders, especially when they are selfish – even communal in nature, and pursue a divisive agenda.” do,” he said.
He stressed that education has an important role to play in combating radicalization, violent extremism and terrorism.
“India has been the biggest victim of terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism. We call upon countries to develop an education system that truly contributes to countering the principles of pluralism and democracy by promoting them.
He said that the biggest defense against intolerance and hatred is to adopt the principles of democracy, where there are necessary checks and balances and where any deviation is addressed within the bounds of the rule of law.
“Societies based on pluralism, where every religion is respected, is an essential condition of tolerance and harmony,” Tirumurti said, adding that the pluralistic tradition was adopted in a resolution piloted by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt on International Human Day. has been recognized. Fraternity.
“India has embraced both these principles – democracy and pluralism. And we call upon all countries to adhere to these principles to ensure that intolerance is addressed within the constitutional framework,” the Indian envoy said.
As the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution earlier this year to declare March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, India raised concerns against raising a religion to the status of an International Day. Expressed, saying that contemporary forms of religious phobia are on the rise, especially anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist and anti-Sikh phobias.
Reacting to the adoption of the resolution moved by Pakistan, Tirumurti told the UN General Assembly that India hoped that the adopted resolution “does not set a precedent” that would give rise to several resolutions on phobias based on select religions. and divide the United Nations. in religious camps.
“Hinduism has over 1.2 billion followers, Buddhism has over 535 million and Sikhism has over 30 million followers spread across the world. Now the time has come for us to accept the spread of religious fear instead of isolating only one,” he had said.
Ambassador TS India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Tirumurti Said on Friday that India has been the biggest victim of terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism.
He called upon the countries to develop an education system that truly contributes to counter terrorism by promoting the principles of pluralism and democracy.
“As we have repeatedly stressed, combating religious fear should not only be a selective practice involving one or two religions, but should equally apply against non-Abrahamic religions. Till this is not done, such international days will never achieve their objectives. There cannot be double standards on religiophobia.’
Tirumurti was speaking at a high-level event to mark the celebration of the first anniversary of the International Day for Hate Speech and Advance Inclusion, Non-Discrimination and the Role of Education to Address the Root Causes of Peace.
A few hours before the blasts in Gurdwara Karte Parwan Two people, including a Sikh, were killed and seven others were injured in Kabul’s Bagh-e-Bala area on Saturday.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a tweet that the “cowardly attack” on Gurdwara Karte Parwan should be condemned in the strongest terms.
India has consistently called for concerted efforts by the international community to combat hatred and violence not only against Abrahamic religions but against all religions including Sikhism, Buddhism and Hinduism, including at various UN platforms.
On several occasions at the United Nations, Tirumurti has pointed out that contemporary forms of religious fear can be seen in an increase in attacks on religious places such as gurudwaras, monasteries and temples, or the spread of hatred and propaganda against non-Abrahamic religions. Country.
India has said that the sabotage of the iconic Bamiyan Buddha by fundamentalists, the terrorist bombing of a Sikh gurdwara in Afghanistan where 25 Sikh worshipers were killed in March 2020 and the destruction of Hindu and Buddhist temples are also reasons to condemn such acts and religions. invokes.
“The rise of contemporary forms of religious fear, especially anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist and anti-Sikh fear is a matter of grave concern and requires the attention of the United Nations and all member states to address this menace. Only then can we address such topics.” But we can bring more balance in our discussions,” Tirumurti said earlier this year.
Speaking at a high-level event organized by the Permanent Mission of Morocco and the United Nations Office on Responsibility for Genocide Prevention and Security, Tirumurti underlined that India’s multicultural edifice has made it a safe haven for asylum seekers over the centuries. In India, whether from the Jewish community or Parsis or Tibetan or from our own neighbourhood.
“It is the inherent strength of our nation which has faced radicalization and terrorism over a period of time,” he said.
Tirumurti said it is in this spirit of history that India has continued to play a decisive role in combating bigotry and terrorism and promoting tolerance and inclusion.
“Mistakes are dealt with within our legal framework and we do not need selective outrage from outsiders, especially when they are selfish – even communal in nature, and pursue a divisive agenda.” do,” he said.
He stressed that education has an important role to play in combating radicalization, violent extremism and terrorism.
“India has been the biggest victim of terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism. We call upon countries to develop an education system that truly contributes to countering the principles of pluralism and democracy by promoting them.
He said that the biggest defense against intolerance and hatred is to adopt the principles of democracy, where there are necessary checks and balances and where any deviation is addressed within the bounds of the rule of law.
“Societies based on pluralism, where every religion is respected, is an essential condition of tolerance and harmony,” Tirumurti said, adding that the pluralistic tradition was adopted in a resolution piloted by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt on International Human Day. has been recognized. Fraternity.
“India has embraced both these principles – democracy and pluralism. And we call upon all countries to adhere to these principles to ensure that intolerance is addressed within the constitutional framework,” the Indian envoy said.
As the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution earlier this year to declare March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, India raised concerns against raising a religion to the status of an International Day. Expressed, saying that contemporary forms of religious phobia are on the rise, especially anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist and anti-Sikh phobias.
Reacting to the adoption of the resolution moved by Pakistan, Tirumurti told the UN General Assembly that India hoped that the adopted resolution “does not set a precedent” that would give rise to several resolutions on phobias based on select religions. and divide the United Nations. in religious camps.
“Hinduism has over 1.2 billion followers, Buddhism has over 535 million and Sikhism has over 30 million followers spread across the world. Now the time has come for us to accept the spread of religious fear instead of isolating only one,” he had said.
