Washington, Apr 29: A US government panel on Tuesday called for India to be put on a religious freedom blacklist over a "drastic" downturn under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, triggering a sharp rebuttal from New Delhi.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommends but does not set policy, and there is virtually no chance the State Department will follow its lead on India, an increasingly close US ally.
In an annual report, the bipartisan panel narrowly agreed that India should join the ranks of "countries of particular concern" that would be subject to sanctions if they do not improve their records.
"In 2019, religious freedom conditions in India experienced a drastic turn downward, with religious minorities under increasing assault," the report said.
It called on the United States to impose punitive measures, including visa bans, on Indian officials believed responsible and grant funding to civil society groups that monitor hate speech.
The commission said that Modi's Hindu nationalist government, which won a convincing election victory last year, "allowed violence against minorities and their houses of worship to continue with impunity, and also engaged in and tolerated hate speech and incitement to violence."
It pointed to comments by Home Minister Amit Shah, who notoriously referred to mostly Muslim migrants as "termites," and to a citizenship law that has triggered nationwide protests.
It also highlighted the revocation of the autonomy of Kashmir, which was India's only Muslim-majority state, and allegations that Delhi police turned a blind eye to mobs who attacked Muslim neighborhoods in February this year.
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The Indian government, long irritated by the commission's comments, quickly rejected the report.
"Its biased and tendentious comments against India are not new. But on this occasion, its misrepresentation has reached new levels," foreign ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said.
"We regard it as an organization of particular concern and will treat it accordingly," he said in a statement.
The State Department designates nine "countries of particular concern" on religious freedom -- China, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
The commission asked that all nine countries remain on the list. In addition to India, it sought the inclusion of four more -- Nigeria, Russia, Syria and Vietnam.
Pakistan, India's historic rival, was added by the State Department in 2018 after years of appeals by the commission.
In its latest report, the commission said that Pakistan "continued to trend negatively," voicing alarm at forced conversions of Hindus and other minorities, abuse of blasphemy prosecutions and a ban on the Ahmadi sect calling itself Muslim.
India's citizenship law fast-tracks naturalization for minorities from neighbouring countries -- but not if they are Muslim.
Modi's government says it is not targeting Muslims but rather providing refuge to persecuted people and should be commended.
But critics consider it a watershed move by Modi to define the world's largest democracy as a Hindu nation and chip away at independent India's founding principle of secularism.
Tony Perkins, the commission's chair, called the law a "tipping point" and voiced concern about a registry in the northeastern state of Assam, under which 1.9 million people failed to produce documentation to prove that they were Indian citizens before 1971 when mostly Muslim migrants flowed in during Bangladesh's bloody war of independence.
"The intentions of the national leaders are to bring this about throughout the entire country," Perkins told an online news conference.
"You could potentially have 100 million people, mostly Muslims, left stateless because of their religion. That would be, obviously, an international issue," said Perkins, a Christian activist known for his opposition to gay rights who is close to President Donald Trump's administration.
Three of the nine commissioners dissented -- including another prominent Christian conservative, Gary Bauer, who voiced alarm about India's direction but said the ally could not be likened to non-democracies such as China.
"I am deeply concerned that this public denunciation risks exactly the opposite outcome than the one we all desire," Bauer said.
Trump, who called for a ban on Muslim immigration to the US when he ran for president, hailed Modi on a February visit to New Delhi.
Ms Revati, who was posted in Bhatkal town police station, in a complaint to the state chief minister and home minister, has claimed that a few senior police officers in Uttara Kannada tried to cover up the case of attempt to create communal tension in the district.
Comments
That police establishments even in non BJP ruled states work hand in glove with the anti- people fascist RSS is a sad commentary of how our constitutional system is time and again challenged with impunity. Except for few courageous officers who work with conviction the police system as such is corrupted with persuasion of a virulent 'Indian Ideology' as much as the political system is.
That RSS and the police establishments often work hand in glove with each other even in many states ruled by non BJP 'secular' dispensations is a sad commentary on the virulence of the so called nationalism and patriotism propelled by an ' Indian Ideology '
Naushad, CONG not only supporting and BUT hiding in chaddis.....Hijdas
Whoever does this whether he's Muslim,Hindu, Christian or from any other community or religion if try to disturb peace and try to hurt somebodies sentiment to be punished maximum.
Actually the Police authority are the only authority can make peace, keep peace, if they want.
Please Respect each other, their reliogion, their community Etc.
LIV ,LET THEM LIV and ALLOW EVERYBODY TO LIV PEACEFUL LIFE.
Hahaha. That fellow became PM by throwing beef at temple and goes to pakistan for having tea
As Sanaulla said we are peace loving people we are business camunity. What ms Reviti has stated is true inquiry must be done by C B I this is not a first time that miscreant thoren meet at warshp plases Her aligation is true our Acp mr Anup Kumar is bussy in catching cattle traders along with Bajrangdal insteade of catching miscreant isn't it stupidity?
As Sanaulla said we are peace loving people we are business camunity. What ms Reviti has stated is true inquiry must be done by C B I this is not a first time that miscreant thoren meet at warshp plases Her aligation is true our Acp mr Anup Kumar is bussy in catching cattle traders along with Bajrangdal insteade of catching miscreant isn't it stupidity?
What a pity. Long ago a senior Ayodhya seer had called BJP as biggest enemy of Hindus. It's 100 percent true.
What's Congress doing? Supporting cheddis?
VIREN now you need her to provide mental treatment ? first you go through it ....
YOU FOLLOWED HITLER IDEAS...AND SURELY you will follow his END
In Bhatkal Mislims are always sufferer
Muslims are highest paying taxes to the Government
Muslims they stands for economy of Bhatkal. Price rise is higher than
The whole district, even though Bhatkal is peace. Nawayath community in Bhatkal r peace loving people. Hindu girls r working In their house. Muslims employ Hindu girls in their shops. Means we have no difference of opinion at all.
Some miscreants including who Mrs. Revati named in her allegation
Mr. Sunil Nayak just he joined BJP some months ago was a member of a Muslim Sports Centre called Royal Sports Centre and he himself
Mixed with Muslim people during marriage ceremony, sports, Travel
And many other occassion. Now a days he make distanced himself from Muslim friends. Even I wish to tell you he was frequently having beef
In Muslims wedding occasions
Shocking allegation against sangha parivar it is very cheap to blame someone for her sin.
serious inquiry must be done on her complaint if that proved correct, each and every criminals should be given maximum punishment.
we know her behavior.. very harsh in our town,
Revati in need of mental treatment. first she got suspended by assuming she will lose her job for her fault.. she herself resigned before.
Revati slap on, this is wrong to blame someone for your mistake.
her hafta may be pending, until now eaten lancha and lived a wonderful life, now money got over started to blackmail others.
revati.. statement is totally wrong, she just wanted to turn off her case into opposite. corrupt officers like u.. we dont need anymore., go to hell.
Police officers like Ms Revati should shoot those criminals infront of everyone even if he is politician or some group head.
really shocking!!!! from today i will stop joining any group.
this must be stopped.. local people should not support the protest of some group.
whoever involved in this heinous act will die dog's death one day.
yahh exactly right thats why i m not very much bothered about the communal violence. its all pre planned. everyone should do their work and keep quiet from fighting nobody will gain anything instead they will lose.
this complaint should be taken as a general awareness, in my opinion some set of 5 to 10 people want to disturb the peace of the society and some gains, why others are responding to their crime. we all brothers and sisters should live in peace,
She is right in accusing her sanghi seniors .... I was the only person on this forum highlighting this drama of meat placing to stir up social unrest .... Bjp goons hats off to you and Pramod Muthalik for creating social disturbances
naren and viren need some treatment for their mental condition.... i can offer both a better treatment.
viren, bhatkal bjp gooons did this in past also. This time police wanted to frame 1 innocent boy also. psi has taken sunil naik bjp leader name who has given money to 1 person name uday goonda to buy cow meat to throw in dewastan.
I wonder fools like #1 still exists in Karnataka... Want to give merit to the evil doers even if they are exposed of their evil. Only devils are happy when some one is harmed... and dont be a devils agent by supporting the Evil..(throwing beef and blaming others)
More deceptions will spill out in near future in Shaa Allah.
Viren u r one of the educated illiterate person on this planet....if the same allegation she put on muslim community then she is a very good police, otherwise, she is mental.....the whole India knows who are the main culprits are except some communal people like u....
Ms Revathi is 100% correct, hats off brave police officer Revathi
Viren!! Who need treatment for them this statement is funny. This is not the first time. Whenever One particular community is involved in any illegal thongs and get caught, then he is mental. Naren antinationalist need itch guard.
The true face of saffron forces unveiled again. Pity on them. Such people dont hesitate to destroy their own family for political gains.
Lol. funny allegations. I think she needs some treatment for her mental condition.
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