Human rights violation against Hindu women in Pak: BJP

Alleging human rights violation against women belonging to the Hindu minority community in Pakistan, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Wednesday demanded a statement from the government on the flight of over 400 affected families to India.

Responding to the forceful plea by Joshi during the Zero Hour in Lok Sabha, Home Minister P Chidambaram said the matter required a detailed response. "After consultations with the prime minister and the external affairs minister, government will make a statement," he said.

In his speech, Joshi alleged that young women were being kidnapped, raped and converted in the Sindh province of Pakistan and added that an average of 25 girls were falling prey to such crimes every month.

"When the local courts grant some relief to the victims, they are threatened," he said, adding that there has been an exodus of a large number of people from the province and over 400 affected Hindu families have fled to India.

"This is a gross violation of human rights as also of their cultural rights. There are many instances of religious persecution. Large scale atrocities are being carried out against minorities in Pakistan," Joshi said quoting reports.

Observing that the government termed these incidents as "internal matters of Pakistan", the BJP leader said, "It is a matter of regret that our government has remained silent on the issue so far."

While "we want good relations with Pakistan", Joshi said the prime minister should assure the House that the government would take up the matter at international human rights fora.

Several BJP members stood in support of Joshi and demanded an immediate statement from the government.