India Slams USCIRF Report on Religious Freedom as 'Biased' and 'Political

New Delhi, May 02, 2024: India has strongly criticised a recent report from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), labelling it as biased and driven by a political agenda.

Responding to questions about the USCIRF report during a media briefing, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "The USCIRF is known as a biased organisation with a political agenda. They continue to publish their propaganda on India masquerading as part of an annual report. We really have no expectation that USCIRF will even seek to understand India’s diverse, pluralistic, and democratic ethos. Their efforts to interfere in the largest electoral exercise of the world will never succeed."

India’s slamming of the report follows the release of the USCIRF's 2024 report, which recommended designating 17 countries, including India, as Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs) for alleged severe violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief.

The USCIRF's report accused the Indian government of implementing "discriminatory nationalist policies," fostering "hateful rhetoric," and neglecting to address communal violence among minority communities. The USCIRF's report also highlighted specific incidents, including violence in Manipur and Haryana, as well as the detention of Kashmiri separatists.

MEA spokesperson perceives it as unwarranted interference in its internal affairs by external entities like the USCIRF.