RAWALPINDI: The Hindu community of the garrison city boycotted Diwali function arranged by Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA on Tuesday.

`Hindus have made this decision to express solidarity with Christians over the Kot Radha Kishan incident in which a Christian couple was burnt alive. We don`t want to celebrate while such bad times have befallen other minority citizens.,` Pakistan Hindu Sikh Social Welfare President Jag Mohan Kumar Arora told Dawn.

`The government especially interfaith harmony ministry wants to divide non-Muslims through such functions, he alleged.

He said the government failed to protect the lives of innocent non-Muslim citizens and should cancel any celebrations in the wake of such a tragic incident.

`The government should take action to protect non-Muslims against such atrocities instead of celebrating their festivals to portray a soft image in front of the international community,` he said.

Jag Mohan Kumar Arora lashed out at the non-Muslim members of Parliament for their silence over the incident and said this was strange behaviour from those who have been elected to be the voice of these voiceless communities.

`Many Hindus in the garrison city especially low caste Hindus hide behind Christian and Muslim names not to reveal their identity openly. Other Hindus and I feel insecure in this environment where a Christian couple was burnt alive in presence of local police,` he said.