Pakistani Hindus march, cancel major Holi celebrations to protest Delhi riots

Members of March from Capri Cinema to Karachi Press Club to express their solidarity with Indian Muslims on March 8, 2020. (AN Photo)

Pundit Mukesh Kumar, a Hindu community leader, speaks to Arab News during the protest march on March 8, 2020. (AN photo)

Shanti Devi, a Hindu woman marching in solidarity with Indian Muslims, speaks to Arab News at M.A. Jinnah Road in Karachi, on March 8, 2020. (AN Photo)

A child on a motorcycle with his father as the protest march proceeds to Karachi Press Club from M.A Jinnah road in Karachi on March 8, 2020. (AN Photo)

Members of the protest as they march from Capri Cinema to Karachi Press Club to express their solidarity with Indian Muslims on March 8, 2020. (AN Photo)

• Community members say will celebrate this year’s Holi festival with simplicity and sobriety
• Pakistan’s Hindu community makes up about two percent of country’s population with majority living in Sindh

KARACHI: Representatives of Pakistan’s Hindu community on Sunday marched in support of the Muslims of Delhi affected by violent riots in the Indian capital last month, and announced they would celebrate this year’s Holi festival on Monday with sobriety as a message of protest against the violence in India.
The Hindu community in Pakistan makes up about two percent of the country’s population of 210 million people and the majority lives in southern Sindh province. For this religious group, the annual festival of Holi is normally celebrated with great zeal in Karachi, as a commemoration of spring and color.
But the 2020 Delhi riots which erupted on the night of Feb. 23 and led to the deaths of 53 people, mostly Muslim, in violent ways, have dampened the joy of the impending festival, the demonstrators said.
“Our Muslim brothers were being oppressed and killed, and their property was damaged in Delhi. It has really hurt us and prompted us to march today,” Pundit Mukesh Kumar, one of the march’s organizers, told Arab News and added: “The festival of Holi, which starts on Monday evening will be celebrated but to fulfil religious obligations only-- without all the colors and merry-making.”
On Sunday, as nationwide Aurat March demonstrations garnered national attention, the Hindu marchers continued their own impassioned protest. Community members said they have suspended all major events usually associated with the festival.
“We have canceled our main events of throwing colors, playing music and showing happiness,” Kumar said
“We urge upon the UN and world community to stop Modi and his government from meting out bad treatment to religious minorities. We also urge our Hindu brothers in India to stand up for the rights of Muslims and other religious minorities,” he said.
“Our Muslim brothers have never been a hurdle to our festival, instead they’ve always protected us,” he said. “They celebrate it with us.”
Referring to India’s controversial new citizenship law which Muslims and civil libertarians in India have been protesting since the beginning of the year, Dr. Rakesh Motiani, a local leader of Pakistan People’s Party said India’s Muslims were only protesting against a bad law. 
“It’s unfortunate that the Modi government tried to stop them from protesting by resorting to the worst form of violence,” Motiani said at the Karachi Press Club.
Shanti Devi, a demonstrator and woman in her 60’s, said the Muslims of India should be considered equal citizens of their country.
“It hurts us a lot when Muslims are tortured in India. All should be considered human beings, and only then will peace prevail and society prosper,” she said. 
“We are all humans and have the right to live in our countries peacefully.”