NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s decision to organise Martyrs’ Day for Burhan Wani led to India flagging human rights violations in Balochistan during Prime Minister’s Independence Day address.
Ram Madhav - Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) influential general secretary, points-man on Kashmir and a key actor in framing neighbourhood policy – told Hindustan Times in an exclusive interview that the immediate provocation for the Balochistan reference came from Pakistan’s decision to honour a ‘leader of a UN-proscribed militant-terrorist group, the Hizbul Mujahideen’.
“If a state, Pakistan in this case, openly organises Martyrs’ Day for a terrorist organisation, then it is time we reminded the world of the worst human rights history of that country. Pakistan is a country that not only promotes and celebrates terrorism on its soil, but also kills its own people using drones, using helicopters. That is the story of Balochistan.”
On July 19, Pakistan had organised a Black Day and honoured Burhan Wani as a martyr.
Responding to reports quoting Chinese think-tank officials that if Indian ‘plots’ caused unrest in Balochistan and disrupted the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, China would have to get involved, the BJP national general secretary said that terrorism and oppression of human rights is a global problem.
“China has to realise that since it is a victim of terrorism in some parts of its own territory. That terror is emanating from the same bases in the neighbourhood. But I have read today that China says it is not a big issue. While think-tanks may be highlighting it, the Chinese government wants to underplay it.”
{{/usCountry}}“China has to realise that since it is a victim of terrorism in some parts of its own territory. That terror is emanating from the same bases in the neighbourhood. But I have read today that China says it is not a big issue. While think-tanks may be highlighting it, the Chinese government wants to underplay it.”
{{/usCountry}}He rejected Pakistani allegations that this was proof that India had been behind the Baloch struggle, and said, “Let them prove it. They are the ones creating trouble by killing innocents. They are sending men and machines to oppress the people of Balochistan.”