America pointed finger at religious freedom, India said - look into your own backyard
Experts are looking at the USCIRF report from this point of view. The report says that during the year 2024, religious leaders have been arbitrarily arrested in many parts of India, self-proclaimed extremist groups have done mob lynching and religious places have been demolished. Such incidents violate religious freedom a lot.
Once again US questioned the state of religious freedom in India. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has also hinted at the steps that will be taken against India while expressing concern about the state of religious freedom in India.
This report was released just hours after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a bilateral official meeting in Washington. Experts believe that this mid-term report, its language, and timing (when the Indian Foreign Minister is in the United States) are part of a strategy to put pressure on India over recent months.
India replied strength for strength and said that this organization, instead of running a one-sided and political agenda, must focus on human rights in America. At a time when the US is making a strategic relationship with India more robust, Washington has tried to tighten the screws on Russia over several issues related to buying oil, the alleged plot to kill proKhalistan Gurpatwant Singh Pannu and religious freedom.
The report referred to the cases of hate speeches, misinformation dissemination, and incitement against religious minorities by public officials. It also refers to recommendations given to the US State Department in view of the poor state of religious freedom in India in the annual report of USCIRF for the year 2024.
It said, under this, ban Indian officials working against religious freedom, includes conditions to ensure religious freedom in US government defense deal policy with India. In response to this, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reacted and said, "USCIRF presents events in distorted form. Instead of pursuing such an agenda, he should focus on the issues of America.".
