India has called for a uniform and global approach to combating religious hatred, asserting that violence in the name of religion must be condemned irrespective of faith.
Delivering India’s statement at the observance of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia at the United Nations General Assembly, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, outlined New Delhi’s position on tackling religious discrimination and extremism.
In his address, Harish emphasised that India, as the birthplace of major religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, understands deeply the importance of fostering a world free from religious intolerance.
“India condemns violence and hatred in the name of religion, regardless of the religion,” he said, highlighting the country’s long-standing commitment to pluralism and coexistence.
Caution against selective frameworks
India also urged caution against what it described as selective approaches focusing on a single religion, stressing the need to address “religiophobia” in all its forms.
Harish noted that the United Nations was conceived as an institution that transcends religious, cultural and political divides, and should therefore adopt a broader, more inclusive framework while addressing issues of religious discrimination.
Strong remarks on Pakistan
In a sharp critique, India accused Pakistan of “weaponising religious narratives” for political purposes and raising unfounded allegations of Islamophobia against India.
Harish pointed to what he described as contradictions in Pakistan’s stance, referring to the treatment of minority communities such as Ahmadiyyas, the reported deportation of Afghan refugees, and military actions during the holy month of Ramadan.
He also alleged that Pakistan has repeatedly used platforms such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to level “false and baseless allegations” against India.
India highlights diversity
Emphasising India’s diversity, the envoy noted that the country is home to over 200 million Muslims, making it one of the largest Muslim populations in the world.
He added that India remains committed to ensuring peaceful coexistence among all communities, rejecting claims of religious discrimination.
Call for inclusive global action
Concluding his remarks, Harish reaffirmed India’s commitment to building inclusive societies grounded in equality, dignity and rule of law.
He urged the United Nations to focus its efforts on addressing all forms of religious hatred and to avoid politicisation of faith-based issues.
India’s intervention comes amid ongoing global discussions on religious intolerance, with calls growing for a more comprehensive and balanced international framework to tackle discrimination across all religions.
