India fumes, calls Iran envoy over riot remark
■ Terms it ‘unwarranted’
India Tuesday summoned the Iranian ambassador Ali Chegeni and placed on record its strong protest over the comments made on Twitter Monday night by Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif who termed the recent Delhi riots as a “wave of organised violence against Indian Muslims and senseless thuggery”. Pointing out that the remarks were “not expected”, India conveyed that the Iranian foreign minister’s “selective and tendentious characterisation of the recent events in Delhi is unacceptable.”
India Tuesday summoned the Iranian ambassador Ali Chegeni and placed on record its strong protest over the comments made on Twitter Monday night by Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif who termed the recent Delhi riots as a “wave of organised violence against Indian Muslims and senseless thuggery”.
Pointing out that the remarks were “unwarranted” and “not expected from a country like Iran”, India conveyed that the Iranian foreign minister’s “selective and tendentious characterisation of the recent events in Delhi is unacceptable.”
On Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “The Iranian ambassador to India Mr Chegeni was summoned and a strong protest was lodged against the unwarranted remarks made by the Iranian foreign minister. It was conveyed that his selective and tendentious characterisation of the recent events in Delhi is not acceptable. We do not expect such comments from a country like Iran.”
Despite New Delhi’s ire however, observers pointed out that India needs Iran, especially for the strategic sea-land access to Afghanistan and central Asia through the Iranian port of Chabahar. The Iranian reaction follows last week’s riots in north-east Delhi that left many dead.
The Iranian foreign minister had tweeted, “Iran condemns the wave of organised violence against Indian Muslims. For centuries, Iran has been a friend of India. We urge Indian authorities to ensure the wellbeing of all Indians and not let senseless thuggery prevail. The path forward lies in peaceful dialogue and rule of law.”