Pakistan has strongly reacted to the remarks issued by Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, wherein he sought an ‘undoing’ of the partition of the subcontinent.
The Foreign Office Saturday issued a statement, rejecting what it called ‘highly provocative and irresponsible remarks’.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar noted that Bhagwat engaged in such ‘delusional thinking and historical revisionism’ before as well.
The spokesperson said that Pakistan has been highlighting the threat to region peace from the extremist Hindutva ideology. He said that the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) was pursuing a ‘toxic mix of the extremist Hindutva ideology and expansionist foreign policy’.
The statement further said, “Those belonging to the BJP and its ideological fountainhead RSS would be well advised to refrain from making such provocative and irresponsible statements”.
The spokesman called on the RSS to accept ‘established realities’ and learn to follow the principles of peaceful coexistence.
The foreign office added that this extremist mindset was aimed at targeting the minorities in India and poses an existential threat to all neighbours of the country. He added that rights violations in Indian held Kashmir and the repression against Muslims in the country was well known.
