UP Muslim MPs oppose razing of historic religious sites; reject comments by Pak

Muslim MPs from Uttar Pradesh have called on authorities to avoid what they described as selective demolitions of historical and heritage sites, arguing that such actions could harm religious and cultural rights and provide foreign countries an opportunity to raise questions about India’s internal matters.

The comments followed a statement by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who had posted on X expressing "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."

Zardari had urged Indian authorities to protect minority religious sites and preserve shared cultural heritage, warning that such developments could have wider consequences, Maktoob Media reported.

Responding to the remarks, Uttar Pradesh Muslim lawmakers said issues concerning the protection of religious and historical sites could be addressed within India’s own constitutional and democratic institutions. They maintained that the Muslim community in the state did not require intervention or advice from Pakistan.

Ghazipur MP Afzal Ansari said that some actions by the Uttar Pradesh government against Muslim-associated heritage structures, carried out on grounds such as alleged encroachment, appeared one-sided. He argued that such measures could affect cultural and religious rights while also giving external actors an opportunity to criticise India internationally.

Ansari rejected Zardari’s comments, saying Indian Muslims had constitutional protections and were capable of raising their concerns through the country’s legal and democratic systems. He also stated that Muslims in India enjoyed better conditions compared with those in Pakistan.

Samajwadi Party leader and Rajya Sabha member Javed Ali Khan said that no foreign government or leader had the authority to comment on India’s domestic affairs. However, he cautioned that any perception of discrimination could allow external forces to use such issues to damage India’s image globally.

Congress National Secretary Shahnawaz Alam argued that government actions were enabling Pakistan to promote criticism of India on issues related to religious freedom and democracy. He stressed that India should continue to uphold constitutional values, including protection of cultural rights, freedom of religion, and secular principles.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs dismissed Zardari’s remarks as unwarranted, stating that Pakistan had no standing to comment on India’s internal matters. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticised Pakistan’s human rights record, particularly its treatment of minority communities, and described the statement as politically motivated.