Pakistan criticizes Modi’s Ram Mandir flag hoisting, India responds sharply
New Delhi: Pakistan has strongly condemned the flag hoisting ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, carried out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing India of increasing pressure on religious minorities and attempting to erase Muslim heritage.
The flag-hoisting, which took place on Tuesday at the newly constructed Ram Mandir on the site of the demolished Babri Masjid, was described by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry as a clear reflection of India’s growing Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims.
Pakistan reiterated its stance that the Ram Mandir was built on the site of the Babri Masjid, a centuries-old religious structure, which was demolished by a mob on December 6, 1992. “The temple now stands where the Babri Masjid once stood, a place of religious significance for Muslims,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, continuing its rhetoric against India’s actions.
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Modi hoisted a saffron flag on the temple’s 161-foot-high spire at 11:50 AM on Tuesday, marking a significant religious milestone for Hindus.
India dismisses Pakistan’s criticism
India quickly responded to Pakistan’s condemnation, calling it baseless and hypocritical. A spokesperson from India’s Ministry of External Affairs said, “We have seen the reported statement and utterly reject it with the contempt it deserves.
A country that has systematically violated the rights of its minorities, including through religious extremism, has no moral standing to offer lessons to others. Instead of giving sermons on religion, Pakistan should turn its attention inward and focus on its own dismal human rights record.”
India’s response underscores the long-standing tensions between the two countries, especially regarding religious and minority rights. The government’s statement added that Pakistan, with its track record of persecuting minorities, particularly Hindus and Christians, should refrain from lecturing India on these issues.
Pakistan appeals to international community
Pakistan also urged the international community to take notice of the increasing Islamophobia in India and the systemic marginalization of Muslims. The Foreign Ministry’s statement called for action to protect religious sites and minority rights in India, pointing to a growing atmosphere of intolerance.
“India’s actions, particularly regarding historical mosques and Muslim places of worship, are clear examples of religious discrimination,” the statement read. Pakistan urged the United Nations and other international organizations to intervene and safeguard the rights of religious minorities in India.
The criticism is part of Pakistan’s ongoing campaign to highlight alleged religious persecution in India, especially since the controversial events surrounding the Babri Masjid demolition and subsequent temple construction.
Religious violence and minority persecution in Pakistan
However, Pakistan has faced international criticism for its own record on religious minorities. The United States’ 2025 human rights report highlighted continued attacks and threats against minority communities in Pakistan, including Hindus and Christians.
In 2023, a mob set fire to a church, and despite arrests, the legal proceedings were criticized for lacking seriousness. Forced conversions of Hindu and Christian girls in the Sindh and Punjab provinces remain rampant, with little accountability from the government.
Earlier criticism of Ram Mandir inauguration
This is not the first time Pakistan has condemned the Ram Mandir project. In January 2024, Pakistan had denounced the consecration ceremony for the Ram Mandir, calling it an affront to religious harmony and a continuation of efforts to marginalize India’s Muslim population.
Pakistan had described the construction of the temple as a “blemish” on Indian democracy and warned that the rise of Hindu nationalism poses a serious threat to regional peace and secularism in India.
Israel congratulates India
In contrast to Pakistan’s criticism, Israel expressed support for India’s religious milestone. Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, shared a photo on Christmas Day congratulating India on the flag hoisting at the Ram Mandir.
“Congratulations to India for the flag hoisting at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. This is a significant moment for civilization,” he wrote, also sharing images from his visit to Ayodhya last year when the temple’s construction began.
The contrasting reactions highlight the global divide in perspectives on India’s religious landscape, with some supporting the country’s sovereign right to celebrate its religious and cultural heritage, while others, like Pakistan, view it through the lens of religious intolerance.
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