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Parliament condemns destruction of Buddhist relics in Afghanistan

Parliament Friday strongly condemned the 'barbaric and anti-civilised' destruction of Buddhist relics, including a 2000-year-old statue in Afghanistan, with the Rajya Sabha adopting an unanimous resolution seeking UN intervention to ask Taleban to desist from this "senseless, destructive act".

The resolution moved by External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh condemned the acts of religious fundamentalism and cultural vandalism of Taleban in destroying the objects Kabul, Gazni, Herat and Kandahar.

"We hope the world community and especially the United Nations will take note of this and prevail upon the Taleban regime in Afghanisan to desist from this senseless, destructive act," the resolution said.

The 2000-year-old statue in Bamiyan is the tallest Buddha in the world standing 55 metres tall.

Singh also made India's offer to bring the remaining Buddhist relics to the country at New Delhi's cost in a bid to preserve the cultural heritage.

"If the Taleban does not wish to retain this inheritance, New Delhi would be happy to arrange for the transfer of all these artefacts to India where they would be kept safely and preserved for all mankind in the full knowledge and clear understanding that these are treasures of the Afghan people," Singh told Parliament.

Amid shouts of "shame, shame" Singh quoted latest information regarding the destruction of the some of the priceless relics in museums and elsewhere in Afghanistan to carry out the diktats of the Taleban leader Mulla Mohammad Omar.

Singh said that UN Security Council had already adopted a resolution 133 co-sponsored by India, United States and Russia seeking sanctions against the Taleban regime in Afghanistan for perpetrating terrorism.

New Delhi was also in touch with several Buddhist countries including China, Sri Lanka, Thailand to use their good offices to prevail upon Taleban regime not to indulge in the "appalling acts of cultural vandalism," he said.

The minister said appeals had also come from several other countries including US, France, Germany to the Taleban to desist from the "absolute outrageous acts of destruction".

Singh said it was regrettable that the Taleban was going ahead with this barbaric act despite global outcry and unequivocal condemnation by the world community.

Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptullah and several senior members including Pranab Mukherjee, N K P Salve, C M Ibrahim, Sarla Maheswari, Sanjay Nirupam and Sharifuddin Shariq joined in the condemnation and described them as "religious fundamental and cultural terrorism".

Shariq said that it was an assault on the Islam which did not preach such vandalism.

Heptullah said "it is the blackest day in the history of civilisation" and it was regrettable that such vandalism was occurring at the same place where the Rig Veda originated.

Associating with the resolution, Mukherjee said Indian government should act in consultation with the UN and UNESCO to bring these relics to India to preserve them which could be transferred back when "sanity" returned to the rulers in Afghanistan.

This serious issue concerning protection of world heritage also figured prominently in the Lok Sabha for the second consecutive day.

Alladi Rajkumar (Telugu Desam Party) regretted that the Pakistan foreign minister had expressed his helplessness in this regard while Sri Lanka had taken the initiative.

Swaraj Kaushal (Himachal Vikas Party) said along with the remaining Buddhist relics, the grave of Prithvi Raj Chauhan should also be relocated in India.

Ram Jethmalani (Independent) said it was a slur on religion and every god-fearing Muslim would condemn this act of barbarism. It was time that India took vigorous steps at the Security Council. He appealed to the minister to make yet another trip to Afghanistan in defence of the Budhist relics.

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