Islamabad, April 17: Pakistan on Tuesday rejected as "falsehood" the Indian charge of "attempts to incite Sikh pilgrims" to raise the issue of Khalistan.
Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammed Faisal "categorically rejected Indian allegations" in a series of tweets, a day after India summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner and lodged a strong protest over attempts being made to raise the Khalistan issue during the visit of Sikh pilgrims to that country.
"By spreading such falsehoods, India stokes the controversy regarding visit of Sikh pilgrims, attending the Baisakhi and Khalsa ceremonies in Pakistan," tweeted Faisal.
He said: "Pakistan welcomes Hindu and Sikh pilgrims from all over the world, including India. Pakistan has made arrangements to extend maximum facilitation to the visiting Sikh pilgrims during their visits to sacred places in Pakistan."
According to the Indian External Affairs Ministry, around 1,800 Sikh pilgrims have been travelling to Pakistan from April 12 under a bilateral agreement on facilitating visits to religious shrines.
India, on Sunday, protested to the Pakistan foreign office that visiting Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan were not allowed to meet the Indian high commissioner and other Indian diplomats. MEA said Indian diplomats were forced to turn back when they went to meet the pilgrims at the Punja Sahib gurudwara.
India called it "inexplicable diplomatic discourtesy", pointing out that this amounted to a "clear violation of the Vienna Convention of 1961, the bilateral Protocol to visit Religious Shrines, 1974 and the Code of Conduct (for the treatment of diplomatic/consular personnel in India and Pakistan) of 1992".
Faisal tweeted that Pakistn "remain committed to continuing such cooperation, which is in line with our religious ethos, traditions of hospitality, and provisions of the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines. No amount of Indian propaganda could succeed in turning this right into a wrong," tweeted Faisal.
He further said that India "should respect international and inter-state norms, respect all religions, especially minorities, and refrain from indulging in pointless provocation which only vitiates an already charged environment to the detriment of all".
Pakistan categorically rejects Indian allegations of “attempts to incite Indian pilgrims” on the issue of ‘Khalistan.’ By spreading such falsehoods, India stokes the controversy regarding visit of Sikh pilgrims, attending the Baisakhi and Khalsa ceremonies in Pakistan 1/7
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) April 17, 2018
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New Delhi: A 25-year-old man was arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly creating a nuisance by pretending to consume alcohol and eat eggs inside a Delhi Metro train in an attempt to gain attention on social media.
The accused, identified as Aakash Kumar, a resident of Shahdara, recorded a video inside a Metro coach where he is seen drinking from a bottle and eating a peeled egg. The incident reportedly took place on March 23 around 10 p.m., during his journey from Welcome to Karkardooma Court station on the Pink Line.
The video went viral on social media, following which a complaint was lodged. Delhi Police began an investigation and shared the video with DMRC officials, CISF personnel, and Metro housekeeping staff to help identify the individual.
After days of effort, Kumar was traced and arrested from Burari. During interrogation, he informed the police that he had consumed only a soft drink and not alcohol, and the act was staged for social media publicity.
Confirming the arrest, Delhi Police shared a video of Kumar in custody and urged the public not to engage in such acts. “Eggs & ‘Alcohol’ in the Metro? That’s not breakfast – that’s a Breach! Break the rules, face the consequences. Rules aren’t suggestions; they’re the law,” the police said in a post on X.
The police have warned that similar behaviour could lead to legal trouble and strict action under relevant provisions.