New Delhi, Oct 4: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has firmly rejected the recent report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), describing it as “malicious” and harmful to the organization’s reputation.
In a statement released on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticized USCIRF as a “biased organization” with a political agenda that distorts facts and promotes a “motivated narrative” about India. He emphasized that the government rejects the report, which he claims only serves to undermine USCIRF further.
Jaiswal urged the commission to focus on addressing human rights issues in the United States instead of continuing its scrutiny of India. “We would urge USCIRF to desist from such agenda-driven efforts,” he said.
The USCIRF report, issued earlier this week, alleged significant violations of religious freedom in India throughout 2024, citing instances of violence against individuals, arbitrary arrests of religious leaders, and the demolition of homes and places of worship. It labeled these incidents as severe violations of religious freedom.
The report also noted the use of misinformation and hate speech by government officials to incite violence against religious minorities, and it discussed legal changes targeting these groups, including the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), and various state-level anti-conversion and cow slaughter laws.
India has a history of criticizing USCIRF reports, arguing they reflect a misunderstanding of the country’s complex social dynamics and contribute to anti-India propaganda.
