Champions of human rights violations should not preach us: India’s Ministry of External Affairs

India rebukes Pakistan’s President for criticising India over Islamic religious sites

New Delhi – India has categorically rejected remarks made by Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari regarding Islamic religious sites in India. Responding sharply, India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that Zardari’s comments were completely baseless, malicious and a deliberate political attack. It added that he has neither the moral nor the legal authority to interfere in or comment on the internal affairs of a neighbouring country. A nation that has itself become a stronghold of human rights violations is attempting to lecture India.

Those who persecute minorities should not preach to us – India

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, ‘The entire world is aware of Pakistan’s reality. Zardari’s remarks are particularly absurd and baseless because Pakistan’s own record on human rights is extremely poor and well known globally. Pakistan has a long and notorious history of systematically targeting and persecuting religious minorities. Zardari’s comments are merely a political ploy intended to divert attention from domestic issues and spread hatred. The remarks appear to be inspired by Pakistan’s national policy, which is rooted in radicalism and hostility.’

Persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan

Over the past several years, international human rights organisations and other groups have repeatedly highlighted the persecution of non-Muslims in Pakistan. According to various reports, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and members of the Ahmadiyya community continue to face religiously motivated violence. Discriminatory laws such as the blasphemy law, coupled with governmental indifference, have allowed violence against minorities to continue unabated.

What had Zardari said?

President Asif Ali Zardari had expressed serious concern regarding the demolition of and alleged threats to historical Islamic religious sites in India, including the thousand-year-old Ganj Shahid Mosque in Varanasi. He urged India to immediately halt such actions and warned that they could lead to India’s disintegration and permanent instability. He also called for the protection of minority rights and the preservation of shared cultural heritage.