India, UAE share values of non-discrimination: Indian Ambassador reminds countrymen in UAE
Abu Dhabi: The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi on Monday reminded its countrymen against discriminatory behavior in the wake of Corona Virus spread.
In a tweet from the official twitter handle, Indian ambassador to the UAE, Pavan Kapoor noted that the two countries share the value of non-discrimination. He also added that discrimination was against the moral fabric and rule of law of the two countries.
“India and UAE share the value of non-discrimination on many grounds. Discrimination is against our moral fabric and the rule of law. Indian nationals in the UAE should always remember this.” The tweet stated.
The reminder to Indians by Pavan Kapoor, come a day after Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had voiced similar views and had stated that the COVID-19 doesn’t see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or borders before striking.
“COVID-19 does not see race, religion, colour caste, creed, language or borders before striking. Our response and conduct thereafter should attach primacy to unity and brotherhood,” Modi had said in a tweet which was shared by Kapoor.
The coronavirus outbreak has exacerbated Islamophobia in India, resulting in anti-Muslim campaigns across the country. Reports have emerged of Indian hospitals segregating Hindus and Muslims or refusing to admit Muslim patients.
Calls for the economic boycott of Muslims have intensified in recent weeks amid reports vilifying them for spreading the virus.
Alarmed by the developments, several prominent social media handles in the region have expressed outrage over the “ill-treatment” of Muslims in India.
Last week, Princess Hend Al Qassimi, a member of a UAE royal family warned that “anyone that is openly racist and discriminatory in the UAE will be fined and made to leave the country.”
She also slammed Dubai-based Indian expat Saurabh Upadhyay who had put out several tweets targeting Muslims and ridiculing Islam. Sharing screenshots of his tweets, Al Qassimi said: “You make your bread and butter from this land which you scorn and your ridicule will not go unnoticed.”
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1971, 2025 not same: Tharoor responds to Congress's Indira Gandhi campaign amid ceasefire with Pak
New Delhi: Amid the Congress party’s campaign spotlighting former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s leadership during the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war, senior party leader Shashi Tharoor emphasised that the current situation in 2025 cannot be equated with the circumstances of 1971.
Speaking to ANI following the recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, Tharoor said, “The truth is that the circumstances of 1971 are not the circumstances of 2025. There are differences.” While acknowledging Indira Gandhi’s achievements, he underlined that today’s geopolitical and military realities are vastly different.
“The 1971 victory was a great achievement and Indira Gandhiji rewrote the map of the subcontinent,” Tharoor said. However, he noted that unlike the moral cause of liberating Bangladesh, the recent conflict risked becoming a prolonged war with no clear objective. “Liberating Bangladesh is a clear objective. Just firing shells at Pakistan is not,” he added.
Tharoor stated that while teaching terrorists a lesson was necessary, extending the conflict further would have risked more Indian lives. “We have suffered a lot. Ask the people of Poonch how many have died. This was not a war we intended to continue,” he said, referring to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
He asserted that those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice, even if it takes months or years. “But that doesn't mean we should put the entire nation at risk in a prolonged war,” Tharoor warned, stressing the need for peace and national development.
Shortly after the ceasefire announcement, several Congress leaders shared images of Indira Gandhi, seen as a veiled criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's handling of the situation. Responding to this, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia questioned the Congress's silence on former PM Manmohan Singh’s response to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
Meanwhile, Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh demanded an all-party meeting to discuss the ceasefire, and raised concerns over US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s reference to a “neutral site,” suggesting possible third-party involvement in the Kashmir issue.
“Finally, the Indian National Congress believes it is but natural for the country to recall Indira Gandhi for her extraordinarily courageous and resolute leadership in 1971,” Ramesh stated.
#WATCH | Delhi | "1971 was a great achievement, Indira Gandhi rewrote the map of the subcontinent, but the circumstances were different. Bangladesh was fighting a moral cause, and liberating Bangladesh was a clear objective. Just keeping on firing shells at Pakistan is not a… pic.twitter.com/Tr3jWas9Ez
— ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2025
