India slammed Pakistan at the United Nations, on Thursday, for being the “mute spectators” as the mob vandalised historic temple in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. It also called out on Pakistan for being a promoter of a culture of peace when the authorities did not take any action during this incident.
A resolution was recently adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday on ‘Promoting a culture of peace and tolerance to safeguard religious sites’ which called for strengthened international efforts to foster a global dialogue on the promotion of a culture of tolerance and peace at all levels, based on respect for human rights and for the diversity of religions and beliefs.
“It is a matter of great irony 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,” TS Tirumurti, the Indian ambassador to the United Nations said.
He added citing the temple destruction incident in December 2020,” A historic Hindu temple was attacked and set on fire by a mob in the town of Karak in Pakistan with explicit support and connivance with the law enforcement agencies which, stood as mute spectators while the historic temple was being razed.”
In this world of growing terrorism, violent extremism, radicalization and intolerance, religious sites and cultural heritage sites remain vulnerable to terrorist acts, violence and destruction. Trimurti recalled instances like the shattering of Bamyan Buddha, the bombing of Sikh gurudwara in Afghanistan which remained vulnerable to such acts.
India attaches great importance to safeguarding cultural heritage and religious sites and also has a strong legal framework for acts of violence or discrimination based on religion including violence targeted towards the places of worship.
