New Delhi, June 22 -- India on June 20 strongly rejected comments made by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari regarding the proposed eviction of occupants from the Ganj Shaheeda mosque premises near Varanasi railway station.

Responding to media queries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India "categorically rejects" the remarks, describing them as unwarranted and asserting that the Pakistan President has no standing to comment on matters that are internal to India.

The spokesperson also criticized Pakistan's human rights record and treatment of religious minorities, stating that Islamabad's comments were particularly inappropriate given its own record on minority rights. He further said Pakistan's history of...