India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, strongly condemned violence and hatred committed in the name of religion and emphasised the country’s long tradition of religious coexistence.
Speaking at an event organised by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC), he emphasised that efforts to tackle religious discrimination should not be limited to a single faith. He also extended greetings on the occasion of Ramadan.
He urged the global community to adopt a more inclusive approach to combating religious intolerance while addressing the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
#WATCH | Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish, says, “I stress that it is important for the UN to take note of the rising trend and dangers of weaponising religious identity and instrumentalising it to serve narrow political ends – by state… pic.twitter.com/lS2e7kFgL4
— ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2026
Sharp Criticism of Pakistan’s Narrative
In a sharp remark, Parvathaneni criticised India’s western neighbour, referring to Pakistan without naming it directly, for fabricating narratives around Islamophobia.
“India’s western neighbour is an excellent example of fabricating imaginative tales of Islamophobia in their neighbourhood,” he said.
| WATCH | India, speaking at the International Day to Combat Islamophobia at the UNGA, called for a broader fight against all forms of religious discrimination, cautioned against politicising faith, and countered Pakistan’s claims while reaffirming its commitment to inclusive… pic.twitter.com/esVQbVDGtA
— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) March 17, 2026
He questioned how issues such as the brutal repression of the Ahmadiyya community, the large-scale refoulement of the helpless Afghans, and air-bombing campaigns in this Holy Month of Ramadan would be characterised. He also accused the OIC of being used to advance “false and baseless allegations” against India.
“The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which our western neighbour has systematically attempted to weaponize against India, has repeatedly made false and baseless allegations against my country,” he added.
Warns Against Politicisation of Religion
The Indian envoy stressed that the United Nations must uphold impartiality to maintain its credibility. He referenced the 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief as a balanced framework that protects followers of all religions.
Parvathaneni cautioned that politicising religion could deepen divisions rather than resolve them.
“History bears repeated witness to how the politicisation of religion does not solve and resolve grievances; however well-intentioned they risk lending legitimacy to precisely this kind of selective, polarising narratives that breed further division,” he said.
He urged the UN to address religious intolerance in a comprehensive and non-discriminatory manner.
India Highlights Its Religious Diversity
Highlighting India’s pluralistic society, Parvathaneni noted that India is home to followers of nearly every major religion and is the birthplace of several, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.
“India, more than any other country, is acutely aware of the need for a world free from religious discrimination,” he said.
He underscored the guiding principle of “Sarva Dharma Sambhava,” meaning equal respect for all religions, as central to India’s constitutional ethos.
#WATCH | Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish, says, “As a nation where followers of virtually every major world religion coexist peacefully and a nation that has given birth to four major world religions namely Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism… pic.twitter.com/zfz8HOKyCJ
— ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2026
Muslims in India
The envoy pointed out that India is home to over 200 million Muslims, one of the largest Muslim populations globally. He said that Muslims, including those in Jammu and Kashmir, actively participate in democratic processes and elect their own representatives.
He rejected narratives portraying India as hostile to Muslims, calling them inconsistent with the country’s multicultural fabric.
“The only ‘phobia’ evident here appears to be directed against the multicultural and peaceful coexistence that all communities in India enjoy, including Muslim communities,” he said.
Reaffirming Commitment to Religious Harmony
Concluding his remarks, Parvathaneni reaffirmed India’s commitment to combating religious intolerance worldwide.
“India reaffirms its commitment to a world free from religious hatred and violence, in all its forms,” he said.
India urged the UN to focus on building inclusive societies grounded in equality, dignity, and the rule of law for people of all faiths.