NEW YORK: As ruling BJP organised demonstrations in various parts of India to protest Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s remarks about Indian prime minister, Pakistani Foreign Minister urged Narendra Modi-led party to protest against unrelenting discrimination and hatred that Indian Muslims face in their own country, instead of protesting against him.

At news conference inside UN earlier this week, he described Mr Modi as “Butcher of Gujarat,” adding that instead of being punished for 2002 massacre of over 2,000 Muslims in Gujarat, he was made Prime Minister.

Responding to his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar’s remarks who, for two days in a row, had called Pakistan “Host of Osama bin Laden” and “Perpetrator of terrorism.”

“My comments were based in history and it is difficult to distort history,” he said when asked about BJP’s protests against him. “You cannot rewrite history to suit your likes and dislikes.” Talking to Pakistani media in New York, he said, “History is witness to role current Indian PM played in Gujarat. No matter how hard BJP or RSS protests, they cannot distort history.” Bilawal said he did not coin term “Butcher of Gujarat, Indian citizens gave this title to him (Modi). So, no matter how much you protest, you cannot change facts.” “They must also condemn Muslim genocide in Gujarat and condemn way Muslims in India, who are largest minority in world are treated. I wish they had also protested for their own Muslim citizens who are now victims of discrimination, hatred instead of targeting me.” Meanwhile, the Foreign Office rejected statement by Indian Ministry of External Affairs”.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 19 2022

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