'Deliberate Attack': India Rejects Pakistan President's Remarks Over Varanasi Demolition Drive

Last Updated:June 20, 2026, 22:45 IST

The MEA highlighted Pakistan's own abysmal record on human rights, saying it had a long history of systematically targeting and victimising minorities across various faiths.

India on Saturday rejected Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s remarks on a reported demolition notice for Varanasi’s Ganj Shaheeda mosque, calling it a deliberate political attack driven by Pakistan’s national policies of bigotry and hatred.

“India categorically rejects the unwarranted comments made by the President of Pakistan. He has, in any case, no locus standi to comment on matters that are internal to India," said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a statement.

Jaiswal also highlighted Pakistan’s own abysmal record on human rights, saying it had a long notorious history of systematically targeting and victimising minorities across various faiths. “Given this reality, the President’s remarks can only be read as a deliberate political attack, driven by Pakistan’s national policies of bigotry and hatred," he added.

What Did Pakistan President Say?

Zardari’s remarks came in response to a legal notice pasted by the Railways at the Ganj Shaheeda mosque located near the main entrance of Kashi railway station, asking occupants to vacate the premises by June 20.

The notice has been issued as part of the process to remove encroachments from railway land for the expansion and proposed construction works under the Kashi railway station redevelopment project, according to reports.

Responding to the demolition notice, Pakistan President Zardari called on India to immediately halt such actions and urged the protection of minority rights and shared cultural heritage.

The move comes after a similar action on June 3, when the Azgaib Shaheed Mazar and a mosque located within the railway station premises were demolished amid heavy security deployment following a court order in a land ownership dispute.

About the Author

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int...Read More

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