No amount of finger-pointing: India responds to Pakistans remarks over attacks on minorities
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that New Delhi firmly rejected such remarks, which came from a nation whose abysmal record on this front speaks for itself.
New Delhi: The long-standing diplomatic friction between India and Pakistan has ignited once again, this time centred on the sensitive issue of minority treatment. On Monday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) delivered a scathing rebuttal to Pakistan, suggesting that the neighbouring country should examine its own "abysmal" human rights record before pointing fingers.
The war of words began when Tahir Andrabi, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed "deep concern" over what he labelled as the systematic persecution of minorities in India.
Andrabi highlighted recent incidents of vandalism during Christmas celebrations and alleged state-sponsored campaigns against the Muslim community, specifically citing home demolitions and the infamous Mohammad Akhlaq lynching case. He accused India of shielding perpetrators and fostering an environment of fear and alienation.
India’s "mirror" defence
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal did not mince words in his response. He firmly rejected Pakistan's remarks, stating that Islamabad’s own "horrific and systemic victimisation" of minorities is a well-documented global fact.
"We reject the reported remarks from a country whose abysmal record on this front speaks for itself," Jaiswal stated, adding that no amount of "finger-pointing" would distract from Pakistan's internal issues regarding religious freedom.
High-level gestures vs ground reality
While the diplomatic battle played out on the global stage, the domestic situation in India presented a complex picture of celebration shadowed by violence.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended Christmas morning service at the Anglican Cathedral Church of the Redemption in New Delhi, calling for "peace, compassion, and hope." Similarly, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan was hosted by Catholic bishops at the CBCI headquarters.
Following the visit, Modi posted a message on social media: "Wishing everyone a joyous Christmas filled with peace, compassion and hope. May the teachings of Jesus Christ strengthen harmony in our society.”
Despite these gestures, India has climbed to 11th place on the Open Doors World Watch List 2025, a ranking of countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.
In a brazen display of intolerance, activists from the ultra-Hindutva groups reportedly stormed Christmas celebrations on Christmas Eve, torching decorations and intimidating schools and local shopkeepers in many parts of the country.
Even in the traditionally more tolerant state of Kerala, an RSS-BJP worker was arrested in the Palakkad district after attacking a group of teenagers singing carols and destroying their instruments.
The church speaks out
Religious leaders have expressed scepticism regarding the government’s public displays of harmony. During a Midnight Mass in Kerala, Cardinal Basilios Cleemis remarked that high-level visits "ring hollow" when violence and intimidation continue without consequence. Asir Ebenezer of the National Council of Churches in India echoed this sentiment, demanding decisive police action against those responsible for hate crimes.