Nuaman Ishfaq Mughal
Islamabad, (Parliament Times) : President Dr. Arif Alvi said that India was falling in the pitfalls of extremism and polarization. He stated this while addressing the seminar titled, “Understanding Hindutva Mindset and Indian Hegemonic Aspirations” organised by India Study Centre, Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad(ISSI) on December 16.
The seminar comprised of two sessions titled, “Mapping Hindutva Mindset” and “Hindutva: Rise of Saffron Terrorism in South Asia.” The President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi was the Chief Guest at the occasion while Senator Shibli Faraz, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting joined as a Guest of Honor. The two sessions were chaired by Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani and Air Marshal (Retd) Javaid Ahmed HI (M), Vice Chancellor Air University respectively.
In his keynote address, the President maintained that India neither cared about its minorities nor neighbours. He said that National Register of Citizens and Citizenship Amendment Act were all meant to isolate the Muslims. The President was of the view that the chances of the reversal of current rise of Hindu nationalism were bleak at the moment. He also expressed his optimism saying that Pakistan was at the threshold of becoming a power, but for that to happen, ensuring economic strength was important.
While addressing the seminar, Senator Shibli Faraz stated Modi’s Hindutva ideology was transitioning India to the biggest fascist regime of the world for it was based on discrimination, hatred, and superiority. Highlighting the indifferent attitude of the world towards India, the Minister further said that such actions had emboldened India to carry out its Hindutva designs through the Citizenship Act, atrocities in Kashmir, its attitude towards minorities, and its terrorist activities to destabilize Pakistan.
Rounding up the seminar, the Director General ISSI, Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry highlighted the significance of building counter narratives and the role of think tanks in this regard.