UN expresses concern over deadly anti-Muslim riots in Indian capital

F.P. Report

UNITED NATION: The United Nations (UN) on Tuesday expressed concern over deadly anti-Muslim clashes in New Delhi, India, in which at least 20 have been killed and a mosque vandalized.

The violence was triggered amidst protest demonstrations against the controversial Indian citizenship law introduced recently by the Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi regime.

“We are obviously following the situation closely,” UN Secretary-General’s Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in response to a question at the regular noon briefing at UN Headquarters in New York.

He underscored the need for Indian security forces to show restraint and to allow the protestors to demonstrate peacefully.

“This is the secretary-general’s constant position,” the spokesman added.

The BBC described the current unrest as an embarrassment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as it has taken the spotlight away from US President Donald Trump’s recent visit to the country.

The BBC said its reporters in north-east Delhi had seen Hindu mobs throwing stones and shouting slogans, with some in the crowd shouting “shoot the traitors”.

They also saw plumes of smoke rising from a tyre market that had been set on fire.

In another incident on Tuesday afternoon, a mosque was vandalised in the Shahdara area.

Widely shared footage showed men trying to rip the crescent from the top of mosque’s the minaret, and planting a saffron flag in its place.

USCIRF urges Modi govt to protect religious minorities

Meanwhile, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on Wednesday also expressed alarm over reports of deadly clashes in New Delhi.

“USCIRF is alarmed by reports of deadly mob violence targeting Muslims in New Delhi, India and urges the Modi government to rein in mobs and protect religious minorities and others who have been targeted,” it said in a tweet.

Demonstrators gather along a road scattered with stones following clashes between supporters and opponents of a new citizenship law, at Bhajanpura area of New Delhi on February 24, 2020

Policeman killed in India citizenship law violence

The violence in Delhi broke out hours before a scheduled visit by US President Donald Trump.

Indian govt issues media ‘advisory’

The Government of India on Tuesday issued an ‘advisory’ to television channels, instructing them to be ‘cautious’ about airing content that ‘may incite violence and promote anti-national attitudes’, reported Hindustan Times.

“It is hereby reiterated that all TV channels are advised to be particularly cautious with regard to any content which is likely to encourage or incite violence, or contains anything against the maintenance of law and order or which promotes anti-national attitudes,” the advisory said.

The advisory also impressed upon private channels to be cautious of content that contains attacks on religious or communities or visuals or words contemptuous of religious groups or which promote communal attitudes.

It also cautioned against content that may carry “defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half-truths”.

The advisory asked channels to ensure that no content is telecast which is violative of the Programme and Advertising Codes as prescribed in the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1995.