‘No moral standing to lecture others’
Srinagar, Nov 26: India on Wednesday reacted sharply to the remarks made by Pakistan about Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisting a sacred flag at Ram Temple in Ayodhya yesterday, stating that the country has no moral standing to lecture others.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said; “We have seen the reported remarks and reject them with the contempt they deserve”.
He said that 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.
“Rather than delivering hypocritical homilies, Pakistan would do better to turn its gaze inwards and focus on its own abysmal human rights record,” Jaiswal said.
Earlier, Pakistan had called for an international attention to rising “Islamophobia” and “heritage desecration” in India. “Pakistan notes with deep concern the flag hoisting at Ram Temple constructed on the site of the historic Babri Mosque in Ayodhya,” it had said.
The Masjid was demolished by a right-wing Hindu mob on December 6, 1992. In 2019, the Supreme Court settled the long-running legal issue, ruling the judgement in favour of the Hindu side. A year later, in 2020, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the Ram Temple, and 4 years later, he presided over its consecration ceremony.
On Tuesday, PM Modi hoisted a 22-foot saffron flag atop Ram Temple in Ayodhya during a sacred ceremony called “Dhwaj Arohan”, marking the formal completion of its construction.
PM Modi was accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat during the ceremony. Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were also present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, reacting to Bangladesh’s request to extradite former PM Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death in crimes against humanity case, Jaiswal said the request is being examined as part of ongoing judicial and internal legal processes.
“We remain committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in that country and will continue to engage constructively in this regard with all stakeholders,” he said. (KNO)
