Syed Salahuddin Ahmad criticizes world leaders’ double standards on International Non-Violence Day

MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 04, (SABAH): Addressing a special gathering of Shura members, Syed Salahuddin Ahmad, the United Jihad Council (UJC) Chief and Supreme Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, shed light on the double standards exhibited by world leaders in their observance of International Non-Violence Day. This global event, celebrated every year on October 2nd to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, holds the purpose of fostering a culture of peace and non-violence on a worldwide scale, as designated by the United Nations.

However, UJC Chief Syed Salahuddin Ahmad expressed concern regarding the current state of affairs in India, where the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi appears to stand in stark contrast to the leadership of Narendra Modi. Mr. Modi, affiliated with the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), has been steering India down a path characterized by Hindu nationalism and authoritarianism, diverging from the principles of non-violence that Gandhi championed. These alarming developments, particularly the endangerment of linguistic and religious minorities, especially Muslims, have cast a shadow over India’s image as a proponent of non-violence.

Syed Salahuddin Ahmad added that at the G-20 summit, world leaders, while paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue, missed a crucial opportunity to recognize the dual faces of Prime Minister Modi. One face, he argued, is presented to the global community, associating himself with Mahatma Gandhi to deceive the world, while the other aligns with Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Gandhi—a figure that Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party deeply respect and follow. The deafening silence of world leaders in the face of the Modi government’s heinous atrocities and biased actions has irreversibly eroded the trust and confidence that the global populace had once vested in them. Their perceived partiality in addressing human rights abuses has, unfortunately, cast a long-lasting shadow on their credibility and reputation.

Syed Salahuddin Ahmad went on to underscore the plight of oppressed nations, such as the Kashmiris, who now find themselves reliant on divine grace. Despite the challenges, these oppressed people remain resolute and determined to pursue their rightful aspirations with unwavering commitment and resilience. He urged global leaders who advocate for Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of non-violence and peace to revisit the profound words Gandhi articulated on a historic occasion, July 29, 1947: “I am not going to suggest to the Maharaja to accede to India or Pakistan. The true rulers of the state are the people, and the ruler is the servant of the people. They should be left free to decide for themselves.”