Imran Khan's remark on minorities "egregious insult to all citizens of India": MEA
New Delhi : The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday replied strongly to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's remark on the minorities, saying it is an “egregious insult to all citizens of India.”
“The Pakistan Prime Minister’s remarks are an egregious insult to all citizens of India. Pakistan prime minister has demonstrated his lack of understanding about India’s secular polity and ethos,” the MEA said in a strongly-worded statement.
“India has leaders of all faiths who occupy its highest Constitutional and official positions. Pakistani citizens of non-Islamic faith are barred from occupying high Constitutional offices. Minorities are often turned away from government bodies like their PMEAC, even in naya Pakistan,” the ministry added.
Hours after Pakistan PM Imran Khan says Indian Muslims are being treated as “second-class citizens”, Indian govt responds.
— Shubhajit Roy (@ShubhajitRoy) February 9, 2019
MEA spox: “The Pakistan Prime Minister’s remarks are an egregious insult to all citizens of India”. @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/yRDy1j5pca
The reaction from MEA came after a Pakistani news channel quoted Imran Khan as saying, "We will ensure minorities in Pakistan are treated as equal citizens with all rights and privileges unlike how the Muslims are being treated in India as second-class citizens."
Earlier, he had slammed the Modi government of having 'anti-Muslim' sentiments. “India has elections coming up. The ruling party has an anti-Muslim, anti-Pakistan approach. They rebuffed all my overtures,” Khan said in an interview to The Washinton Post.
