OIC has only harmed its own reputation: MEA

We have noted yet another motivated and misleading statement from the general secretariat of the OIC on matters pertaining to India. Issues in India are considered and resolved in accordance with our constitutional framework and mechanisms. . . democratic ethos and polity,” said external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

The communal mindset of the OIC secretariat does not allow for a proper appreciation of these realities. The OIC continues to be hijacked by vested interests to further their nefarious propaganda against India. As a result, it has only harmed its own reputation,” he added.

After remarks earlier by Pakistan and the US ambassador for religious freedom on the Karnataka issue, the government had said last week that motivated comments on India’s internal issues are not welcome.

The OIC general secretariat had expressed deep concern over “recent public calls for genocide of Muslims by the ‘Hindutva’ proponents in Haridwar in Uttarakhand and reported incidents of harassment of Muslim women on social media sites as well as banning of Muslim girl students from wearing hijab in the state of Karnataka”.

“The continued attacks targeting Muslims and their places of worship, the recent trend of anti-Muslim legislations in different states and rising incidents of violence against Muslims on flimsy pretexts by ‘Hindutva’ groups with impunity, are indicative of the growing trend of Islamophobia,” it had said.

In September last, on the sidelines of the 76th UN General Assembly, the OIC had asked India to reverse its decision of scrapping Article 370 which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. 

In response, India had asked OIC to refrain from commenting on the country’s internal matters.