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Lessons in tolerance: MP ask colleagues not to denigrate Hindus in speeches
ISLAMABAD: Voicing concern at the derisive tone of speeches in the lower house of parliament during the ongoing budget session, Hindu lawmakers on Saturday advised their colleagues in the National Assembly not to target the Hindu faith while criticising Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies towards Pakistan.
The budget session has increasingly been focused on Indian policies towards Pakistan in the wake of rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed states.
Lawmaker Lal Malhi pointed out to his colleagues that Hindus are also Pakistani citizens. “I was shocked to hear that MNA Jamshed Dasti and former prime minister Mir Zafaralluh Khan Jamali stating ‘Hindus are those who worship the cow,” he said.
“This is part of our belief. Why are they targeting our faith?” asked MNA Malhi in his remarks to The Express Tribune.
Read: My government has only one religion, India first: Modi
Deputy Speaker Javed Murtaza Abbasi pointed out that Malhi’s speech was going live on television. “I’m aware of the rules and business of the house and have great respect for senior lawmakers, too” Malhi replied.
“But I have been observing proceedings and speeches of fellow lawmakers for three to four days now and noticed that they questioned Hindus for worshipping cows. Yes, we worship the cow and will continue to do so because this is our right.”
“We are also Pakistanis. Why do we not say that Hindus are also Pakistanis,” he asked. “They want to curse India but they are cursing Hindus, too,” he added.
Addressing the National Assembly speaker, MNA Malhi asked. “It is not fair to question our faith. Yes, we respect, honour and adore cows.”
Despite his expectations, he said, lawmakers did not raise the issue of the abduction of a 14-year-old Hindu boy, Pawan, from Tando Allah Yar, Sindh. “Pawan was later converted forcefully. However, no one will speak about this incident,” he said. “What they [lawmakers] will do is that they will continue mocking us and this is unfortunate and unacceptable,” he said.
Read: India, Bangladesh seal border pact as Modi visits
In one of his posts on social media, Kapil Dev, a rights activist from Sindh, stated: “PTI MNA Lal Malhi dared to call a spade a spade. This is how a Pakistani Hindu is treated here. In our jingoism with India, be it politicians or people, we quickly link all Hindus with India. All Indians are not Hindus and all Hindus are not Indians. There are over 200 million Muslims and other minority groups living in India. If you want to criticise and condemn India, please condemn the country, not the Hindu religion. We are Pakistanis and we don’t need a certificate of our patriotism from… anyone. Accept us as Pakistani Hindus.”
The Rights of Expression, Assembly, Association and Thought, a national coalition working for rights of minorities, urged the MPs to respect the diversity and other faiths in the country while commenting on Indian policies.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2015.
Lessons in tolerance: MP ask colleagues not to denigrate Hindus in speeches - The Express Tribune
The budget session has increasingly been focused on Indian policies towards Pakistan in the wake of rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed states.
Lawmaker Lal Malhi pointed out to his colleagues that Hindus are also Pakistani citizens. “I was shocked to hear that MNA Jamshed Dasti and former prime minister Mir Zafaralluh Khan Jamali stating ‘Hindus are those who worship the cow,” he said.
“This is part of our belief. Why are they targeting our faith?” asked MNA Malhi in his remarks to The Express Tribune.
Read: My government has only one religion, India first: Modi
Deputy Speaker Javed Murtaza Abbasi pointed out that Malhi’s speech was going live on television. “I’m aware of the rules and business of the house and have great respect for senior lawmakers, too” Malhi replied.
“But I have been observing proceedings and speeches of fellow lawmakers for three to four days now and noticed that they questioned Hindus for worshipping cows. Yes, we worship the cow and will continue to do so because this is our right.”
“We are also Pakistanis. Why do we not say that Hindus are also Pakistanis,” he asked. “They want to curse India but they are cursing Hindus, too,” he added.
Addressing the National Assembly speaker, MNA Malhi asked. “It is not fair to question our faith. Yes, we respect, honour and adore cows.”
Despite his expectations, he said, lawmakers did not raise the issue of the abduction of a 14-year-old Hindu boy, Pawan, from Tando Allah Yar, Sindh. “Pawan was later converted forcefully. However, no one will speak about this incident,” he said. “What they [lawmakers] will do is that they will continue mocking us and this is unfortunate and unacceptable,” he said.
Read: India, Bangladesh seal border pact as Modi visits
In one of his posts on social media, Kapil Dev, a rights activist from Sindh, stated: “PTI MNA Lal Malhi dared to call a spade a spade. This is how a Pakistani Hindu is treated here. In our jingoism with India, be it politicians or people, we quickly link all Hindus with India. All Indians are not Hindus and all Hindus are not Indians. There are over 200 million Muslims and other minority groups living in India. If you want to criticise and condemn India, please condemn the country, not the Hindu religion. We are Pakistanis and we don’t need a certificate of our patriotism from… anyone. Accept us as Pakistani Hindus.”
The Rights of Expression, Assembly, Association and Thought, a national coalition working for rights of minorities, urged the MPs to respect the diversity and other faiths in the country while commenting on Indian policies.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2015.
Lessons in tolerance: MP ask colleagues not to denigrate Hindus in speeches - The Express Tribune
