European Parliament calls on India to protect all religious minorities

RELIGIOUS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in India.

The Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Thursday (13) called on Indian authorities to put in place measures to halt the ethnic and religious violence and to “protect all religious minorities”.

Responding to media queries on the development, Indian ministry of external affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that “such interference in India’s internal affairs is unacceptable, and reflects a colonial mindset”.

Manipur has been witnessing violent clashes, especially between Kuki and Meitei communities for close to two months.

The resolution entitled ‘India, the situation in Manipur’ was initiated by Pierre Larrouturou, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.

Parliament strongly urges the Indian authorities to put in place all necessary measures to promptly halt the ethnic and religious violence and to protect all religious minorities.

The MEPs called on the Indian authorities to allow “independent investigations” to look into the violence and urged all conflicting sides to cease making “inflammatory statements, re-establish trust and play an impartial role to mediate the tensions”.

“Parliament reiterates its call for human rights to be integrated into all areas of the EU-India partnership, including in trade,” the press statement said.

The resolution comes as prime minister Narendra Modi began a two-day visit to France on the invitation of president Emmanuel Macron as the guest of honour at the country’s Bastille Day Parade.