Pakistan has issued a strong condemnation in response to the Chief Ministerof India’s Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, and his controversial remarksregarding the notion of “reclaiming Sindhu (Sindh).”
These remarks were characterized by Pakistan as “highly irresponsible” andwere seen as indicative of a “revisionist and expansionist mindset.” Thegenesis of this controversy can be traced back to Adityanath’s statementmade a day earlier, where he drew a parallel between the historical eventssurrounding Ram Janmabhoomi and the potential reclaiming of Sindhu.
Adityanath argued that since the site of the Babri Masjid, known as RamJanmabhoomi, had been “taken back” after a span of 500 years, there shouldbe no reason why a similar endeavor could not be pursued for Sindhu. Healluded to the ongoing construction of a grand temple for Lord Ram inAyodhya, which is expected to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister.
To provide context, Ram Janmabhoomi had been the site of the Babri Masjidfor nearly 500 years until it was controversially demolished by Hinduzealots in 1992. This event triggered widespread riots across India,resulting in the deaths of around 2,000 people, predominantly Muslims. Itremains one of the most distressing instances of sectarian violence inindependent India’s history.
Adherents of Hinduism believe that Lord Ram, the warrior god, was born inAyodhya approximately 7,000 years ago. According to their belief, a mosquewas constructed on the very spot considered to be his birthplace during the16th century. In November of a previous year, India’s highest court,following a protracted legal battle spanning decades, awarded the site toHindus, thereby offering Muslims an alternative location to construct a newmosque.
In reaction to these remarks made by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh,the Foreign Office Spokesperson for Pakistan, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, stronglydenounced them. She referred to Adityanath as a “key member of India’sruling dispensation” and a proponent of the “bigoted Hindutva ideology.”Baloch also expressed dismay that Adityanath had referenced the reclamationof Ram Janmabhoomi as a precedent for asserting territorial claims over aregion that constitutes a part of Pakistan.
Baloch pointed out the historical context, highlighting that it was aHindu supremacist mob that had brazenly demolished the historic BabriMosque in December 1992, claiming it as the birthplace of Lord Rama inAyodhya. She further mentioned that these provocative remarks were inspiredby the idea of “Akhand Bharat” (undivided India), reflecting a revisionistand expansionist mindset that not only seeks to influence neighboringcountries but also marginalize India’s religious minorities.
Read Top Stories
This, in her view, amounted to a skewed interpretation of history. Balochexpressed grave concern that such ideas were being increasingly advocatedby individuals associated with the BJP-RSS alliance as a means to advancetheir divisive political agenda.
She called upon Indian leaders to prioritize conflict resolution withneighboring countries and collaborate towards building a peaceful andprosperous South Asia, rather than pursuing hegemonic and expansionistambitions.
In summary, Pakistan has strongly criticized Yogi Adityanath’s remarks,framing them as indicative of a revisionist and expansionist mindset thatthreatens regional stability. The issue raises concerns about the directionof India’s domestic and foreign policy, particularly in relation to itsneighbors.
Baloch’s statement underscores the importance of peaceful resolution andcooperation in South Asia to foster a harmonious and prosperous region.