Amid a new low in Indo-Pak ties, Pakistan High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood was conspicuous by his absence at the Eid celebration hosted by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for envoys of different countries on Tuesday night.
Speaking on the occasion, Swaraj indirectly hit out at Pakistan saying India would never let the forces of hatred and violence come near its people. Talking about India’s religious diversity, the minister said Eid-ul-Fitr, like any religious festival, brought together people of all faiths in India.
“Whether Deepavali or Christmas or Baisakhi or Navroze or any other, Eid-ul-Fitr too brings together people of all faiths. India is home to one of the largest population of Muslims. Our celebrations of Eid are as diverse as our regions, languages, cuisine, and traditions, as vibrant as our clothes and festivities, and as sweet as our traditional meeti sevaiyan and a host of savoury dishes,” Swaraj told the Ambassadors and High Commissioners.