India has ‘strongly condemned’ a statement from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressing concern at acts of violence during Ram Navami processions, saying such remarks reflect an “anti-India agenda”.
OIC has lately turned into a body where member nations are keen for funds from China and at its behest they are ready to tow Pakistan’s agenda. China has been making inroads in the Islamic world through its investment projects. Infact, while being invited as a ‘special guest’ in the 48th Council of Foreign Ministers of OIC in Pakistan on 22 and 23 March, 2022, Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi assured US $400 billion as investment in different projects in Muslim countries under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Islamic grouping has remained tight lipped regarding the fact that more than a million Uyghur Muslims are in concentration camps in China.
OIC has been critical of India, which is home to around 172.2 million Muslims. The organisation instead of engaging India meaningfully has been blocking India’s participation continuously at the behest of Pakistan. It claims to represent Muslims and yet does not want India to be a member or observer or a guest? Denying India a dignified engagement at the grouping shows OIC’s bias. How can a body speak for Indian Muslims, when its members bloc India’s engagement in the meetings?
OIC has once again exposed its double standards through its statement as the organization and its members have been maintaining silence when it comes to the repression of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang by Beijing. They ignore brutal suppression of Muslims in Xinjiang, China, instead try to poke their nose in India’s internal affairs. The violence on Ramnavmi was reported from several areas and both communities were involved. It was not a pre-planned violence targeted only against one community as OIC has made it out to be. The OIC has so far not issued any statement against ban on fasting presently in the holy month of Ramadan imposed by China on Muslims in Xinjiang. The Islamic body instead of condemning inhuman treatment meted out by Chinese authorities to its Muslims, has invited China to attend its meetings as ‘special guest.’
Responding to the OIC statement, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said: “We strongly condemn the statement issued by OIC Secretariat today regarding India.”
He added, “This is one more example of their communal mindset and anti-India agenda. OIC only does its reputation damage by being consistently manipulated by anti-India forces.”
The general secretariat of the OIC issued a statement that expressed deep concern at “acts of violence and vandalism targeting Muslim community in several states in India during the Ram Navami processions”.
The OIC had denounced what it described as “provocative acts of violence and vandalism”, saying they are a “vivid manifestation of mounting Islamophobia and systemic targeting of the Muslim community in India”.
The OIC and its member countries have remained silent and even endorsed the actions of the Chinese Communist Party against Uhygur Muslims as Beijing imposes religious restrictions, forced sterilisation, labour, genocide and allows mass rapes of Muslim women in detention camps.
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