The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday rejected the “biased and motivated” comments made by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) about India and urged the commission to develop a better understanding of India.
Responding to media queries regarding comments on India in the USCIRF Annual Report, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is biased and biased this time in its 2023 Annual Report on India. continues the inspired comments.”
The response comes after a US federal commission urged the Biden administration to impose targeted sanctions by freezing the assets of Indian government agencies and officials responsible for “serious violations” of religious freedom in the country.
USCIRF also recommended the US Congress to raise the issue of religious freedom and hold hearings during US-India bilateral meetings.
In its annual report on religious freedom, the USCIRF asked the US State Department to designate India as a “country of particular concern” on the state of religious freedom, along with several other countries.
Bagchi said India rejects such misrepresentation of facts, which only serves to discredit USCIRF, and urged the commission to desist from such efforts.
“We would urge the USCIRF to desist from such efforts and develop a better understanding of India, its plurality, its democratic nature and its constitutional system,” the spokesperson said.
USCIRF has been making similar recommendations to the State Department since 2020, which have not been accepted.
USCIRF recommendations are not binding on the State Department.
India has repeatedly criticized USCIRF for “misrepresenting” the facts. India has also described it as an “organization of particular concern”.
(With PTI inputs)
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India Rejects ‘Biased’ USCIRF Report on its Religious Freedom
Last Update: May 03, 2023, 00:34 IST
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. (File photo/ANI)
Bagchi said India would urge USCIRF to desist from such efforts and develop a better understanding of India
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday rejected the “biased and motivated” comments made by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) about India and urged the commission to develop a better understanding of India.
Responding to media queries regarding comments on India in the USCIRF Annual Report, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is biased and biased this time in its 2023 Annual Report on India. continues the inspired comments.”
The response comes after a US federal commission urged the Biden administration to impose targeted sanctions by freezing the assets of Indian government agencies and officials responsible for “serious violations” of religious freedom in the country.
USCIRF also recommended the US Congress to raise the issue of religious freedom and hold hearings during US-India bilateral meetings.
In its annual report on religious freedom, the USCIRF asked the US State Department to designate India as a “country of particular concern” on the state of religious freedom, along with several other countries.
Bagchi said India rejects such misrepresentation of facts, which only serves to discredit USCIRF, and urged the commission to desist from such efforts.
“We would urge the USCIRF to desist from such efforts and develop a better understanding of India, its plurality, its democratic nature and its constitutional system,” the spokesperson said.
USCIRF has been making similar recommendations to the State Department since 2020, which have not been accepted.
USCIRF recommendations are not binding on the State Department.
India has repeatedly criticized USCIRF for “misrepresenting” the facts. India has also described it as an “organization of particular concern”.
(With PTI inputs)
read all latest india news Here