New Delhi: India has categorically rejected the US State Department’s 2023 report on international religious freedom, calling it “deeply biased” and lacking a genuine understanding of the country’s social dynamics.
Addressing a weekly briefing, The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We have noted the release by the US State Department of its report on international religious Freedom for 2023. As in the past, the report is deeply biased, lacks an understanding of India’s social fabric, and is visibly driven by votebank considerations and a prescriptive outlook. We therefore reject it.”
#WATCH | On US State Department’s 2023 religious freedom report on India, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, “We have noted the release by the US State Department of its report on international religious Freedom for 2023. As in the past, the report is deeply biased, lacks an… pic.twitter.com/SvW6SUwft3
— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024
Jaiswal criticised the report for what he described as a “selective use of facts” and a reliance on biased sources. He argued that the report’s portrayal of religious issues in India is skewed and one-sided, misrepresenting the country’s policies and social realities. He emphasised that the report fails to provide a balanced view and instead focuses on negative aspects without acknowledging India’s efforts to promote religious harmony and protect minority rights.
The MEA spokesperson also defended Indian laws and regulations that the report questioned, particularly those related to monitoring financial flows and ensuring compliance with national security measures. Jaiswal stressed that these laws are crucial for maintaining the country’s security and are in line with India’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens.
India reiterated that topics like human rights and diversity are legitimate subjects of conversation between nations, but emphasised that such dialogues should not be misconstrued as a pretext for foreign interference in domestic affairs.
Highlighting concerns over incidents in the US, Indian officials, including Jaiswal, noted that in 2023, India formally raised multiple cases involving hate crimes, racial attacks on Indian nationals and other minorities, and vandalization of places of worship.
Additionally, issues such as mistreatment by law enforcement and the provision of political space to advocates of extremism and terrorism abroad were brought to the forefront. Jaiswal stressed that while dialogue on these issues is important, it should respect the sovereignty of each nation and avoid unwarranted interference.
The United States’ annual report on global religious freedom, released earlier this week, has raised concerns about India’s policies and practices affecting religious minorities. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted that governments worldwide continue to target individuals based on their religious beliefs, leading to the closure of places of worship, forced displacements, and imprisonment.
Talking about India, he added, “In India, we see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities.” In his remarks, Blinken also addressed the alarming rise in hate crimes within the United States, particularly those targeting Muslims and Jews.
