Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs. File.
| Photo Credit: PTI
India on May 2 categorically rejected as “biased” and “motivated” a report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) that alleged “severe violations” of non secular freedom within the nation.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated the Commission continues to regurgitate such feedback and India rejects the “misrepresentation of facts” which solely serves to “discredit USCIRF itself”.
He additionally requested USCIRF to develop a greater understanding of India, its plurality and its democratic ethos.
Also learn | India, once more, ‘Country of Particular Concern’ on non secular freedom grounds, says U.S. Commission
“The US Commission on International Religious Freedom continues to regurgitate biased and motivated comments about India, this time in its 2023 annual report,” he stated.
“We reject such misrepresentation of facts which only serves to discredit USCIRF itself,” Mr. Bagchi added.
“We would urge USCIRF to desist from such efforts and develop a better understanding of India, its plurality, its democratic ethos and its constitutional mechanisms,” he stated.
In its annual report on non secular freedom, the USCIRF requested the U.S. State Department to designate India as a “country of particular concern” on the standing of non secular freedom together with a number of different nations.
The USCIRF has been making comparable suggestions to the State Department since 2020, which haven’t been accepted.
The suggestions of USCIRF usually are not obligatory for the State Department.
In its India part of the newest report, the USCIRF alleged that in 2022, non secular freedom circumstances in India continued to worsen.
The U.S. Commission additionally urged the Biden administration to impose focused sanctions on Indian authorities businesses and officers answerable for “severe violations” of non secular freedom within the nation by freezing their belongings.
It additionally really helpful that Congress increase the problem of non secular freedom throughout US-India bilateral conferences and maintain hearings on it.
