India rebuffs Pak Prez Zardari over mosque comments
MEAIndia (@MEAIndia) Live Events as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Addas a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to
MEAIndia (@MEAIndia) Live Events as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Addas a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel India on Saturday strongly rejected comments made by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, describing them as "unwarranted" and asserting that he had "no locus standi" to comment on India's internal matters.In an official statement, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) 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."The MEA further said the remarks were particularly inappropriate in light of Pakistan's own human rights record."These comments are particularly absurd given Pakistan's own abysmal record on human rights, which is a matter of global commentary. Pakistan's long history of systematically targeting and victimizing minorities across various faiths is notorious," Jaiswal said.The spokesperson also alleged that the Pakistani President's remarks were politically motivated and reflected Islamabad's broader policies."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.The Pakistani President's comments were triggered by a notice issued by the Railways to occupants of the Ganj Shaheeda mosque near the entrance of Varanasi's Kashi railway station, directing them to vacate the site by June 20.According to reports, the notice is linked to the clearance of railway land required for expansion and redevelopment works at the station.The move comes days after authorities demolished the Azgaib Shaheed Mazar and an adjoining mosque within the station premises under heavy security following a court order in a land ownership dispute.Zardari subsequently asked India to 'stop such actions' and called for the 'protection of minority rights and shared cultural heritage'.
The BriefWire