India has strongly rejected comments made by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on alleged demolitions of Muslim historical sites in the country, calling them a 'deliberate political attack.'
The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Zardari's comments were 'particularly absurd' given Pakistan's own 'abysmal record on human rights', which is a matter of global commentary.
Pakistan's history of targeting and victimizing minorities across various faiths is notorious, Jaiswal added, saying the President's remarks were driven by 'bigotry and hatred.'
The comments came after the Indian Railways issued a notice to occupants of the Ganj Shaheeda mosque, asking them to vacate the premises by June 20 as part of the Kashi railway station redevelopment project.
Zardari expressed deep concern over the demolitions and threats to historic Muslim religious sites in India, including the 1,000-year-old Masjid Ganj Shaheeda in Varanasi, and urged India to immediately stop such actions and protect minority rights and shared cultural heritage.
