Pakistan’s government sacked a provincial minister on Tuesday for making offensive comments about Hindus, amid easing tensions with India after the two nuclear-armed neighbors came to the brink of war last month.
As reported by Reuters, Punjab provincial Information Minister Fayyaz Chohan referred on Monday to Hindus, who number more than four million in Muslim-majority Pakistan, as “cow urine drinkers” in a highly charged speech against India.
The statement was immediately condemned on social media and by senior members of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as hurtful to the country’s Hindu minority.
Chohan later said his comments were aimed at India and not Pakistani Hindus.
“PTI Punjab government has removed Fayyaz Chohan from the post of Punjab Information Minister following derogatory remarks about the Hindu community.
Bashing someone’s faith should not b a part of any narrative.Tolerance is the first & foremost pillar on which Pakistan was built.” the PTI said on Twitter. Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) is Imran Khan’s party that rules over Pakistan today.
PTI Punjab government has removed Fayyaz Chohan from the post of Punjab Information Minister following derogatory remarks about the Hindu community. Bashing someone’s faith should not b a part of any narrative.Tolerance is the first & foremost pillar on which #Pakistan was built. pic.twitter.com/uKJiReWc26
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 5, 2019
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated dramatically last month, after an Indian air strike on what it said was a militant group that had carried out a suicide attack in the Pulwama district of Indian-controlled Kashmir on Feb. 14.
The situation began improving after Pakistan last week released an Indian pilot who had been shot down in an aerial dog fight, in what Islamabad called a “goodwill gesture”.
Omar Abdullah referring to a statement by BJP leader and Meghalaya Governor hit out at the BJP government for not taking action on Tathagat Roy for an offensive message for Kashmiris.
“In Pakistan a state minister is sacked for his remarks against Hindus. In India a state Governor isn’t even reprimanded for his public call to boycott & ostracise all Kashmiri muslims. We like to compare ourselves to Pakistan so compare this fact as well,” he tweeted.
In Pakistan a state minister is sacked for his remarks against Hindus. In India a state Governor isn’t even reprimanded for his public call to boycott & ostracise all Kashmiri muslims. We like to compare ourselves to Pakistan so compare this fact as well.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) March 5, 2019
Tathagat Roy had tweeted a message to boycott Kashmiri products two weeks back.
An appeal from a retired colonel of the Indian Army: Don’t visit Kashmir,don’t go to Amarnath for the next 2 years. Don’t buy articles from Kashmir emporia or Kashmiri tradesman who come every winter. Boycott everything Kashmiri.
I am inclined to agree— Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) February 19, 2019
