New Delhi’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) delivered a sharp rebuttal to Pakistan’s accusations regarding the treatment of minorities in India. During a weekly media briefing on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged Pakistan to examine its own abysmal record on minority rights before pointing fingers at others.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi had criticized demolition actions in Delhi’s Turkman Gate area near Faiz-e-Ilahi Masjid, claiming they were attempts to erase Muslim heritage. Jaiswal dismissed these remarks outright, stating that those making such comments should first reflect on the dire conditions faced by minorities in their own country.
The demolitions, as clarified by Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) officials, were carried out in compliance with Delhi High Court directives to remove illegal encroachments around the masjid and adjacent areas. This action underscores India’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, even in sensitive locations.
This isn’t the first time India has had to counter Pakistan’s narrative. Last month, New Delhi rejected Islamabad’s concerns over violence against minorities, spotlighting Pakistan’s systemic persecution of religious minorities. An MEA statement emphasized that Pakistan’s horrific track record of atrocities against Hindus, Christians, and others disqualifies it from lecturing India.
Reports from credible sources paint a grim picture in Pakistan. A study by the International Center for Peace Studies in New Delhi, citing Lahore’s Center for Social Justice, revealed 344 blasphemy cases in 2024 alone. Between 2021 and 2024, 421 minority women and girls—mostly Hindus and Christians, with 71% underage—were forcibly converted to Islam.
These statistics highlight deep contradictions in Pakistan’s national identity, fueled by misuse of religion, anti-India sentiment for political gain, and the systemic second-class treatment of non-Muslims. India’s firm response serves as a reminder that hypocrisy will not go unchallenged. As diplomatic tensions simmer, New Delhi continues to prioritize legal enforcement and minority protections within its borders.
