In a resounding display of solidarity and a call for global unity, the Indian diaspora and friends of India in France came together on October 22 to mark “Black Day.”
This day commemorates a dark chapter in history, as it was on October 22, 1947, when Pakistan’s invaders illegally entered Jammu and Kashmir, leaving a trail of plunder and atrocities in their wake. The peaceful protest aimed to draw attention to Pakistan’s failure to respect human rights in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Indian Diaspora Updates
The event, organized by members of the Indian Diaspora and friends of India, took a poignant turn as they shared their experiences of living in a world increasingly marked by radicalization and divisions fueled by religious differences.
They pointed to tragic incidents that have occurred in France, such as the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty three years ago and Professor Dominique Bernard just a week ago in Arras. These incidents, they argued, serve as stark reminders of the perilous world they find themselves in.
The members of the Indian diaspora in France articulated their concerns about being compelled to alter their lifestyles and values due to the growing influence of radicalization in their surroundings.
They emphasized that these challenges are not unique to their community alone. They underlined the importance of like-minded, democratic, and secular countries uniting against the forces that threaten their cherished way of life.
India, they pointed out, is a country that has historically upheld harmony among multiple religious groups, with no concept of anti-Semitism. It has tirelessly battled terrorism and radical forces originating from across its borders in Pakistan.
The Indo-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir, according to the Indian Diaspora, goes beyond a territorial issue. Instead, it signifies Pakistan’s early attempts to disrupt India’s secular fabric by supporting violence and using proxies to advance its strategic interests.
What initially started as an endeavour to seize the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 has evolved into an entrenched state policy that endorses terrorism against adversaries and permits radical Islamic groups to flourish within Pakistan.
The group also alleged that the attack carried out on September 25, 2020, by a young Pakistani national outside the former offices of the Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris had been influenced by radical groups in Pakistan.
In their statement, the Indian Diaspora in France made a compelling case for the world to view Pakistan’s actions not just as a territorial dispute but as part of a broader pattern aimed at undermining secular values and promoting extremism.
They called upon like-minded nations worldwide to join hands in opposing states that sponsor terrorism and radicalization, emphasizing the urgent need to protect their cultural and secular way of life.
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