India Rebukes U.S. Report on Religious Freedom as Biased
India has strongly criticized the U.S. State Department’s 2023 report on International Religious Freedom, labeling it as “deeply biased” and accusing it of presenting a one-sided projection of issues.
Government’s Response
During a press briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemned the report, stating that it undermines the integrity of Indian legal judgments while highlighting the U.S.’s own domestic challenges with hate crimes.
“The exercise itself is a mix of imputations, misrepresentations, selective usage of facts, reliance on biased sources, and a one-sided projection of issues,” Jaiswal remarked.
He further accused the report of selectively picking incidents to support a preconceived narrative.
Content of the U.S. Report
On June 26, 2024, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken released the annual report, which criticized multiple countries, including India, for failing to protect religious rights of minorities. The report highlighted an increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, and demolitions of homes and places of worship for minority faith communities in India.
Indian Government’s Counter-Claims
Responding to the report, Jaiswal pointed to the law and order situation in the U.S., citing numerous instances of hate crimes against Indians and other minorities in the U.S. in 2023. He mentioned racially motivated attacks, vandalism of places of worship, and mistreatment by law enforcement authorities in the U.S.
“In 2023, India has officially taken up numerous cases in the U.S. of hate crimes, racial attacks on Indian nationals and other minorities, vandalisation and targeting of places of worship, violence and mistreatment by law enforcement authorities,” Jaiswal stated.
Criticism of Legal and Legislative Aspects
The U.S. report also touched on the campaign for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in India and the concept of a “Hindu Rashtra.” It criticized the apparent complicity between law enforcement agencies and majoritarian groups, suggesting bias in handling issues related to religious minorities.
Jaiswal asserted that the U.S. report intruded into India’s legislative affairs by questioning the validity of certain laws and court judgments.
“The report appears to intrude into the legislative affairs of India, questioning the integrity of laws and regulations and the right of legislatures to enact them,” he said.
Conclusion
India’s strong rebuttal of the U.S. report reflects ongoing tensions regarding international assessments of religious freedom and human rights, highlighting differences in perspectives between the two nations on these sensitive issues.
Sunil Garnayak is an expert in Indian news with extensive knowledge of the nation’s political, social, and economic landscape and international relations. With years of experience in journalism, Sunil delivers in-depth analysis and accurate reporting that keeps readers informed about the latest developments in India. His commitment to factual accuracy and nuanced storytelling ensures that his articles provide valuable insights into the country’s most pressing issues.
