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The recent diplomatic spat between India and the United States revolves around the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and its 2024 annual report. This report, which recommended designating India as a “Country of Particular Concern” for alleged religious freedom violations, has been met with staunch rejection by the Indian government. The report, published on Wednesday, cited numerous alleged incidents of violence against Christians and Muslims throughout 2024, including killings, beatings, lynchings, arbitrary arrests, and demolitions of homes and places of worship. The USCIRF attributed these incidents to “systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom” and highlighted the use of misinformation and hate speech by government officials to incite violence against minorities.
India's response was swift and resolute. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the report as “malicious” and “agenda driven”, accusing the USCIRF of misrepresenting facts and peddling a motivated narrative. Jaiswal described the commission as a “biased organisation with a political agenda” and urged it to “desist from such agenda driven efforts.” He further suggested that the USCIRF would be “well advised to utilise its time more productively on addressing human rights issues in the United States”.
The USCIRF, an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the US Congress, has long been a source of friction between the two nations. India has consistently rejected its findings in recent years, arguing that the commission holds a prejudiced view of India's internal affairs. While the USCIRF maintains its commitment to monitoring religious freedom globally, India's response underscores the sensitive nature of religious freedom issues and the potential for diplomatic strain when perceived as external interference. The ongoing debate over the USCIRF's report highlights the complexities of international relations and the challenges in navigating sensitive issues like religious freedom across different cultural contexts.
It remains to be seen how this latest episode will impact US-India relations. While both nations maintain strong economic and strategic partnerships, the disagreement over religious freedom has the potential to further complicate bilateral ties. The USCIRF's recommendations carry symbolic weight, and India's rejection signals a significant point of contention. The future of this relationship will likely depend on the ability of both countries to find common ground and engage in constructive dialogue, respecting each other's sensitivities while upholding shared values.
The USCIRF's report, while raising important concerns about alleged religious freedom violations, has also sparked a debate on the role of international bodies in monitoring internal affairs. India, while acknowledging the importance of religious freedom, maintains that such issues are best addressed through domestic processes. The report's potential to influence US policy toward India will be closely watched, as it could impact areas like visa policies, trade agreements, and military cooperation.
Source: ‘Malicious, agenda driven’: India rejects USCIRF report on religious freedom