India Rejects Pakistan President's 'Absurd' Comments on Varanasi Mosque Issue
India has categorically rejected remarks made by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari regarding an alleged threat to a historic mosque in Varanasi, stating that he has no locus standi to comment on the country's internal matters.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “India categorically rejects the unwarranted comments made by the President of Pakistan. He has, in any case, no locus standi to comment on matters that are internal to India.”
Jaiswal further stated that the comments are “particularly absurd given Pakistan’s own abysmal record on human rights, which is a matter of global commentary.” He highlighted Pakistan's “long history of systematically targeting and victimising minorities across various faiths is notorious.”
“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,” Jaiswal added.
Zardari had issued a statement expressing concern over alleged demolitions and threats to historic Muslim religious sites in India, specifically referencing the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi.
The MEA's response underscores India's position that external commentary on its internal affairs is unwarranted, especially from a nation with a documented record of minority rights violations.
