'Cheap Talk': Twitter Reacts as MEA Assures Aid Only to Hindu, Sikh Afghans

Several tweets question the government's pointed abstinence from extending its aid to Muslim refugees.

Several Twitterati have reacted to a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday, 16 August, which declared that India would facilitate a safe return for members of the Sikh and Hindu communities stranded in the crisis-ridden Afghanistan.

The tweets question the government's pointed abstinence from extending its aid to Muslim refugees.

Imagine India is asking fleeing Afghans, Hindu or Muslim?

— Saba Naqvi (@_sabanaqvi) August 16, 2021

MEA: “We are in constant touch with the…Afghan Sikh & Hindu communities. We will facilitate repatriation to India…There are also a number of Afghans who have been our partners…We will stand by them.”

Our response to a crisis is now going to be dependent on people’s faiths? pic.twitter.com/8y4HflESFh

— A Mariyam Alavi (@MariyamAlavi) August 16, 2021

One of the justifications for the CAA was 'but Muslims cannot face persecution in Muslim countries', an always-specious argument now exposed by the events in Afghanistan. And yet, the Govt. continues to find ways to discriminate. https://t.co/AWlLQ2twYA

— Sreenivasan Jain (@SreenivasanJain) August 16, 2021

This is for Afghan Sikhs and Hindus

Basically Afghan Muslims & Christians we don’t want to help you

— ‎ 🇵🇸 پربھا 🚜 🏳️‍🌈 (@deepsealioness) August 16, 2021

Other than India, has any other country stated that it would give refuge to Afghan Hindus and Muslims and NOT Muslims?!

With this kind of cheap talk, India stands to lose all the goodwill it has created in Afghanistan over the years!

— Happymon Jacob ഹാപ്പിമോൻ ജേക്കബ് (@HappymonJacob) August 16, 2021

For our govt to say, officially, that our doors are open only to Afghan Hindu and Sikh refugees and not Muslims- is entirely in character for this monstrously heartless and bigoted dispensation. Pathetic. #Afghanistan

— Ajay Kamath (@ajay43) August 16, 2021

From the #MEA statement on #Afghanistan. #CAA logic all around - the filter of faith.

Afghan Sikhs & Hindu are obviously at grave risk of persecution under #Taliban rule, but so are sectarian minorities like the Hazara. #India should keep its doors open for all at this hour. pic.twitter.com/eXamAkTq8P

— Angshuman Choudhury (@angshuman_ch) August 16, 2021

Does a bullet in #Afghanistan differentiate between Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims? Why then must the solution be provided to select few? It is heartbreaking to see how much Afghans love and respect India and the treatment that our govt mete out to them in their direst hour. https://t.co/BfKb3F5vyz

— Kanika Gupta| خبرنگار (@kanika0509) August 16, 2021

@MEAIndia Mr. Bagchi it is not the time to play Sikh-Hindu vs Muslim. Petty bigotry is terrible foreign policy - unbecoming of a diplomat, let alone a government.

You must rise above petty RSS indoctrination to take a seat at the for humanity table.

Re: https://t.co/kLHQJlbGfO

— 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐲𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐢 Ohol (@OholArt) August 16, 2021

What about Indian #Muslims who have settled in #Afghanistan?. Will #Modi help them too or they are not welcome in Modi s #India? https://t.co/xxlsSjrquQ

— Tony Ashai (@tonyashai) August 16, 2021

Will help Afghan Hindus, Sikhs come to India, says Government on Afghanistan crisis.Why not Muslims ? Are their lives not important ? Is this the time to do politics Modiji ? @hd_kumaraswamy@santwana99 @ramupatil_TNIE @dhanyarajendran @nramind

— Nasir Hussain Ustad (@nasirustad_glb) August 16, 2021

And India abandons Afghan Muslims despite all the friendship slogans all these years. Hindus and RSS will always hate Muslims. pic.twitter.com/MA3ccL87vg

— Khan (@J_khan1990) August 16, 2021

The question I have is; are we even more intolerant than Afghanistan? They have our Hindus and Sikhs? But we won’t take their Muslims? Notice that nationality was not mentioned, religion was.... India is digging low depths every day. pic.twitter.com/v7WPfv6Wr9

— poonam (@poonamkachandd) August 16, 2021

Even after the Taliban has taken over Afghanistan, the Indian govt has only offered help to Afghan Hindus & Sikhs, but not Muslims. Imagine playing the religion card at a time of crisis in a neighbouring country. Either help all Afghans or none, stop doing religious politics here

— Sankul Sonawane (@Sankul333) August 16, 2021

What the External Affairs Ministry Statement Said

The Government of India will take all steps to ensure the safety of Indian nationals and its interests in Afghanistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday, a day after the Taliban seized power of the country after a 20-year-long war period.

The ministry further stated that it was in contact with the Indian nationals in Afghanistan who wished to return.

"We are in constant touch with the representatives of Afghan, Sikh, and Hindu communities. We will facilitate repatriation to India of those who wish to leave Afghanistan. There are also a number of Afghans who have been our partners in the promotion of our mutual development, education, and people to people endeavours. We will stand by them."

The External Affairs Ministry statement

Acknowledging that the security situation in Kabul has deteriorated significantly in the last few days, the MEA said that it was awaiting the resumption of flights to restart the repatriation process.