India sees through Pakistan's smokescreen at the UN

India has called out Pakistan once again, this time during the adoption of the resolution on promoting a culture of peace and tolerance to safeguard religious sites at the United Nations General Assembly.

Asianet Newsable English

United Nations Headquarters, First Published Jan 22, 2021, 9:56 AM IST | Last Updated Jan 22, 2021, 9:59 AM IST

While expressing its consensus on adopting the resolution moved by Saudi Arabia and Morocco, Indian envoy to the UN TS Tirumurty said it was ironic that the country where the most recent attack and demolition of a Hindu temple took place in a series of such attacks and where the rights of minorities are being emasculated is one of the co-sponsors of the resolution under the agenda item "Culture of Peace".

The incident India was referring to in India was the December 2020 attack on the historic Hindu temple which was set of fire by a mob in the town of Karak in Pakistan with "explicit support and connivance with the law enforcement agencies" that stood as mute spectators while the monument was being razed.

Reiterating its desire for application of the principles of objectivity, non-selectivity and impartiality to form the basis of discussions in the UN, especially on the issue of religion, India made it clear the proposed resolution "cannot be a smokescreen for countries like Pakistan to hide behind".

India said, "The United Nations, including the UN Alliance of Civilizations, should not take sides and as long as such selectivity exists, the world can never truly foster a culture of peace."

"We must stand united against the forces that supplant dialogue and peace with hatred and violence," it added.

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