The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) rejected the US State Department 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom on Tuesday, saying it was based on misinformation. The report, released on Monday, noted that targeted attacks against religious communities, including Christians, Muslims, Dalits, and indigenous communities, continue to take place in India.
Govt rejects report by US State Department on religious freedom that criticised India for alleged attacks on minorities
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 16, 2023
Report Based on Flawed Understanding
The report comes just a month ahead of Indian PM Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US scheduled for 22 June.
MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi’s statement came in response to media queries regarding the report. He said, “Regrettably, such reports continue to be based on misinformation and flawed understanding.”
Bagchi also slammed comments made by a senior US official after the release of the report. The official who chose to stay anonymous said that the US was encouraging India to hold all those groups accountable which are engaged in dehumanising rhetoric toward religious minorities and commit violence against these communities.
“Motivated and biased commentary by some US officials only serves to undermine further the credibility of these reports,” Bagchi said.
While the ministry rejected the report, it also said India would continue to value its partnership with the US and engage in “frank exchanges” on issues of concern.
MEA rejects U.S. State Department report citing deteriorating religious freedom in India, says comments by US officials about “continued targeting” of minorities are biased and motivatedhttps://t.co/65fl5rshOB
— Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) May 17, 2023
Religious Freedom Report on India
The report listed numerous incidents of alleged religious violence in India and criticised the anti-conversion laws of several Indian states for being politically motivated.
The report cites numerous instances of violence by law enforcement authorities against members of religious minorities in multiple states. It also mentioned the “punitive” demolitions and “cow-vigilantism” against non-Hindus. It also documented several hate speech incidents that allegedly instigated violence between religious groups.
Additionally, the report mentioned that the Supreme Court of India had failed to deliver any decision on the Hijab Ban in Karnataka.
The US has repeatedly expressed concerns about the human rights situation in India.
The USCIRF (US Commission for International Religious Freedom) report on religious freedom in India had requested the US State Department to list India as a “country of particular concern” for engaging in violations of religious freedom.
India rejected the USCIRF report as “biased” and said that the Commission should develop a better understanding of India, its plurality and its democratic ethos.