India has taken note of recent reports regarding objectionable comments made against Bhagat Singh in Pakistan and has strongly protested with Islamabad over the issue, the government said in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirtivardhan Singh said New Delhi was taking issue with Islamabad over “attacks on cultural heritage, growing intolerance and lack of respect for minority communities in Pakistan”. “The Government of India has taken note of the recent reports regarding the offensive remarks made in Pakistan against Shaheed Bhagat Singh and has strongly protested the incident with the Government of Pakistan through diplomatic channels,” he said.
Singh answered a question. The minister said that the government and the entire nation recognized the invaluable contribution of martyr Bhagat Singh in India’s freedom struggle.
Asghar Leghari, the Advocate General of Pakistan’s Punjab government, made some objectionable remarks against Bhagat Singh during a hearing in the Lahore High Court last month.
He said, ‘Martyr Bhagat Singh’s death anniversary is celebrated every year in India and abroad.
In a separate question, Singh said India and Bangladesh share deep-rooted bonds of history, culture, language and many other similarities.
“India’s relations with Bangladesh stand on their own merits and are independent of Bangladesh’s relations with third countries,” he said. Singh’s comments came when the interim government of Bangladesh was working to strengthen relations with Pakistan, whether the government has taken note of the change in its approach.
“The bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh has become a multifaceted partnership that benefits the people of both countries through trade and investment, increased connectivity and people-to-people exchanges,” he said. Singh said the government closely monitors all developments affecting India’s national interest and takes all necessary measures to safeguard it.
To another question, Singh cited US government data and said a total of 519 Indian nationals were sent to India during the period from November to October last year.
“According to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Indian nationals deported from the US to India were ordered to be removed as they were declared unauthorized to stay in the US by the competent authorities,” he said.