'Guilty conscience': Sushma Swaraj slams Pak minister over report of abduction of Hindu girls in Sindh

A war of words broke out between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary over reports of abduction of two Hindu teenaged girls and their forcible conversion to Islam on the eve of Holi in the Sindh province.

Sushma Swaraj (Source: PTI)

The spat started soon after Sushma Swaraj sought details from the Indian envoy in Pakistan into the reported abduction of two Hindu teenaged girls.

Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry responded to her tweet, saying it was his country's "internal issue".

The two sisters, aged 15 and 13, were reportedly abducted on the eve of Holi.

NEW DELHI: A war of words erupted between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry over the reported abduction, forced conversion and underage marriages of two teenage Hindu girls in Sindh province. Swaraj sought details from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on the reported abduction of the girls and their forcible conversion to Islam. "I have asked the Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan to send a report," the Minister tweeted. Responding to Swaraj's tweet, Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary said: "Maam its Pakistan's internal issue and (be) rest assured it's not Modi's India where minorities are subjugated, it's Imran Khan's Naya Pak where white colour of our flag is equally dearer to us." "I hope you'll act with same diligence when it comes to rights of Indian minorities," he said.

Mam its Pakistin internal issue and rest assure its not Modi’s India where minorities are subjugated its Imran Khan’s Naya Pak where white color of our flag is equally dearer to us.I hope you ll act with same diligence when it comes to rights of Indian Minorities https://t.co/MQC1AnnmGR

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 24, 2019

Swaraj, in her response to Chaudhary, said she had only asked for a report from the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad about the kidnapping and forced conversion of two minor Hindu girls to Islam. "This was enough to make you jittery. This only shows your guilty conscience," she said.

Mr.Minister @fawadchaudhry - I only asked for a report from Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad about the kidnapping and forced conversion of two minor Hindu girls to Islam. This was enough to make you jittery. This only shows your guilty conscience. @IndiainPakistan

— Chowkidar Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 24, 2019

This prompted Chaudhry to respond again. "Madam Minister I am happy that in the Indian administration we have people who care for minority rights in other countries. I sincerely hope that your conscience will allow you to stand up for minorities at home as well. Gujarat and Jammu must weigh heavily on your soul," the Pakistani minister tweeted.

Madam Minister I am happy that in the Indian administration we have people who care for minority rights in other countries. I sincerely hope that your conscience will allow you to stand up for minorities at home as well. Gujarat and Jammu must weigh heavily on your soul. https://t.co/7D0vMiUI42

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 24, 2019

The two sisters, aged 15 and 13, were reportedly abducted on the eve of Holi. The incident came to light after their father and brother said in videos that went viral on social media that the two were kidnapped and forced to embrace Islam. In a separate video, however, the minor girls are heard saying that they accepted Islam of their own free will. Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered a probe into the incident, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Sunday. Chaudhry said Khan wanted concrete steps taken to prevent such incidents from happening again. The Hindu community in Pakistan staged protests seeking action against the kidnappers. India has been raising the issue of plight of minorities, particularly the Hindu community in Pakistan.

Published at : 24 Mar 2019 05:45 PM (IST)

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