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Fundamentalism,

intolerance

intensify in India:

Khushwant Sindh

KARACHI: The prominent Indian journalist and writer Khushwant Sindh said on Friday that Hindu fundamentalism and intolerance has intensified in India since Bhartia Janta Party's induction in power.

He was speaking at "Meet the Press" Programme of Karachi Press Club (KPC) here. He said desceration of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya by Hindu militants, was the height of fundamentalism and intolerance.

Singh said he had told L. K. Advani in a meeting that the BJP which has a certain amount of bias against the Muslims, led the dragon scene in Ayodhya and that triggered a row of hatred, intolearnce and Hindu fundamentalism.

He said Vishwa Hindu Parshad (VHP) now claims that they would not allow the Indian Supreme Court to give decision against their action in Ayodhya. This is unfortunate, he added.

Replying to a question, he said the nuclear bomb is not a weapon of deterrent but an instrument of mass destruction.

He said if Pakistan drops an atom bomb over India, the impact of destruction will be spanning from Lahore to Calcutta.

He said the intelligentsia in India had criticised the nuclear explosions by the BJP govenment.

"After the patrotism sentiments were over, there were people who raised their voice against these explosions. A prominent author Amittabh Ghosh had written a book, condemning the nuclear tests," the Indian journalist said.

When pointed out that US President Bill Clinton had advised Pakistan to forget about Kashmir. He said, Pakistan will not forget Kashmir and similarly Kashmiris will not forget about Kashmir, which is their homeland.

He said enormous number of people in India are not happy over the existing tension between the two countries and are in favour of reducing tension over borders.

He said Kargil episode has disappointed Pakistan Ñ friendly lobby and the intelligentsia in India and hoped that after some time these sentiments will be changed.ÑAPP