‘Deliberate political attack’: MEA rejects Pakistan President's remarks on minority rights in India

India has strongly refuted comments made by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari regarding minority rights and the alleged demolition of Muslim historical sites within India. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, stated that Zardari has no locus standi to comment on India's internal affairs.

“

He has, in any case, no locus standi to comment on matters that are internal to India.

Jaiswal described Zardari's remarks as "particularly absurd" given Pakistan's "abysmal record on human rights." He further accused Pakistan of a "long history of systematically targeting and victimizing minorities across various faiths." According to India, Zardari's comments are a "deliberate political attack, driven by Pakistan’s national policies of bigotry and hatred."

“

These comments are particularly absurd given Pakistan’s own abysmal record on human rights, which is a matter of global commentary.

Zardari's comments were made after Indian Railways issued a notice for occupants of the Ganj Shaheeda mosque, located near the Kashi railway station, to vacate the premises by June 20. The notice is part of a project to redevelop the Kashi railway station and remove encroachments from railway land. Similar demolitions of structures within the railway station premises have occurred previously following court orders in land ownership disputes.

“

Given this reality, the President’s remarks can only be read as a deliberate political attack, driven by Pakistan’s national policies of bigotry and hatred.