A Hindu physique right here known as the USCIRF report on non secular freedom a piece of “Hinduphobic” fee members whereas Muslim and Christian teams hailed the observations made in it, demanding that the US declare India as a “country of particular concern”.
The US Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) report beneficial to the Biden Administration to designate India, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan and 11 different nations as “countries of particular concern” within the context of non secular freedom.
The suggestions aren’t binding on the US authorities.
HinduPACT, an initiative of the World Hindu Council of America, in a press release alleged that the USCIRF has been taken over by “Indophobic and Hinduphobic members”.
The American Muslim Institution (AMI) and its affiliate organisations applaud the USCIRF advice, saying non secular freedom situations in India “significantly worsened” in 2021.
The Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations and the Indian American Muslim Council in separate statements additionally applauded the USCIRF advice.
During a particular digital congressional briefing, a day after the discharge of the report, USCIRF Commissioner Anurima Bhargava had alleged that Indian authorities officers have been tolerating and fascinating in non secular persecution of Muslims and Christians with prolific mob violence.
India has dismissed such allegations. Senior US authorities officers have informed lawmakers that India has a vibrant civil society, an unbiased judiciary and a mature practical democracy, which has sufficient mechanisms to handle the interior human rights issues if any.
HinduPACT in a press release slammed the USCIRF.
“This year’s report follows a pattern of reports that have appeared in previous years. Based on publicly available information on topics like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Kashmir, the USCIRF report is a copy-and-paste of talking points peddled by an agglomeration of Islamist groups working with radical Islamist group Justice for All on whose platform USCIRF commissioners appear regularly,” alleged Utsav Chakrabarti, govt director of HinduPACT.
“It is now obvious that the USCIRF has been taken over by the Indophobic and Hinduphobic members. Many of these members have attended India and Hindu bashing events. It is no surprise that their selective observations are meant to promote a political agenda and further their electoral reach in select communities,” stated Ajay Shah, president of the World Hindu Council of America (VHPA).
In a press release, Koshy George, Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations, beneficial that the president and the US Administration settle for the USCIRF suggestions and title India as a “country of particular concern” whereas it may nonetheless assist shield American pursuits in that area for the long-term.
“This could also go a long way in helping the Union of India remain a functioning liberal democracy with respect for all religious and linguistic minorities,” he stated.
Indian-American Muslim Council govt director Rasheed Ahmed stated they commend the USCIRF for “refusing to cave in to the lobbying of US-based right-wing Hindu nationalist groups and making clear that the ground reality of minorities in India is of constant harassment and violence”.
“Given the damning information presented in this report, US State Department officials must now act on the recommendations made by the USCIRF by officially designating India as a CPC and by imposing targeted sanctions upon the Indian government to hold officials responsible for encouraging hate,” stated Syed Afzal Ali, president of the IAMC.
