India on Wednesday strongly rebuked Pakistan over its remarks on the flag hoisting at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, stating that Islamabad has no moral authority to lecture other countries given its record of bigotry, repression, and systemic mistreatment of minorities.
Addressing a weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Pakistan should focus on its own human rights record rather than issuing “hypocritical homilies.” He added, “We have seen the reported remarks and reject them with the contempt they deserve. As a country with a deeply stained record of bigotry, repression, and systemic mistreatment of its minorities, Pakistan has no moral standing to lecture others.”
India’s response came after Pakistan’s Foreign Office condemned the flag hoisting at the temple, alleging it reflected a pattern of marginalisation of religious minorities in India.
The statement follows a series of diplomatic interventions by India at the United Nations, where it highlighted Pakistan’s sponsorship of cross-border terrorism, including the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025, which claimed 26 lives. Raghoo Puri, First Secretary at India’s UN Mission, described Pakistan as the “worst violator of human rights” and criticised it for “peddling lies and making false equivalences” regarding terrorism and fundamental freedoms.
India has also drawn attention to Pakistan’s recent air strikes in Afghanistan, calling them violations of the UN Charter and international law. At the UN, India referenced Pakistan’s genocide in Bangladesh during the 1971 War of Independence and condemned Islamabad’s ongoing persecution of Hindu, Christian, and Ahmadiyya minority communities, often under the guise of religion.
-IANS