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.
Coronavirus state-wise India update: Total number of confirmed cases, deaths on April 29
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.
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Ella sahodarammarkk oru advise, nanga nanga penagitt nangalo onnamatho dushman BJP gellum pole aakiranda, please please ninga ellarum onnaitt genduro chance ullo nangalo oru candidate barumpole aakonu, nangalo raya innoru UP do pole aakiranda
Brother,
Being in respectable position as a minister, he should have thought twice before making a statement. If somebody scribbles against him or speaks against him in social media like Fb and whatsapp let him file a case against them. Or let him condemn them. ಇವರನ್ನು ಟೀಕಿಸಿದವರೆಲ್ಲ ಢೋಂಗಿ ಮಾಡಿ ಗಲ್ಫ್ ಗೆ ಹೋದವರಾ? . ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತನಾಡುವಾಗ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಚಿಂತಿಸಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದರೆ ಅವರ ಘನತೆಗೆ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದು.
In next election, people will decide who is the best loafer and teach him a good lesson. #Ashrafbhai Nxt Mla #UTK Koragajjana gudige
UT Khader Saab. Most of the NRIs from your region know very well that some of your opponents are not just loafers but are ugliest creatures and communal goons. But you don’t lose cool and respond to them in public. Let them go to hell. We are with you. You are a role model for many. So kindly don’t react to the loafers in their own language.
My humble request to UTK is to ignore the cheap level criticism by communal goons. Be it Bajrangis or SDPI. They really don’t deserve the attention of a great social worker and politician like UTK.
UT Khader has not twisted his statement. He never said that all NRIs are Dongi Maadi Gulf ge hodavaru. He said that Dongi Maddi gulf ge hodavaru trying to teach him how to live. And he doesn’t care them. That’s true. Nirva Modi and Vijay Malya also included in dongi parties.
ಯು. ಟಿ ಖಾದರ್ ಓರ್ವ ಶಾಸಕ ಹಾಗೂ ಸಚಿವ ಎಂಬ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಅವರನ್ನು ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಜಾತಿ, ಮತ, ಧರ್ಮ ಪಂಗಡದವರು ಅವರವರ ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳಿಗೆ ಆಹ್ವಾನಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಜನ ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿ ಎಂಬ ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಖಾದರ್‌ರವರು ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ, ದೈವಸ್ಥಾನ, ಚರ್ಚು, ಮಸೀದಿ, ಉರೂಸ್, ಸುನ್ನಿ, ಎಪಿ, ಈಕೆ, ಸಲಫಿ, ಜಮಾತೆ ಇಸ್ಲಾಂ ಎಂಬ ಬೇಧ ಬಾವ ಇಲ್ಲದೆ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅವರವರ ನಂಬಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ಗೌರವಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅಂತೆಯೇ ಕೆಲ ದಿನಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ತಮ್ಮ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದ ಕೊರಗಜ್ಜ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲೂ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿದ್ದರು. ಪ್ರತೀ ವರ್ಷವೂ ಅವರು ಆಹ್ವಾನಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ ಮತ್ತು ಖಾದರ್ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿತ್ತಾರೆ ಇದನ್ನೇ ನೆಪವಾಗಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಕೆಲವರು ವಿದೇಶದಿಂದ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಜಾಲತಾಣದ ಮೂಲಕ ನಿರಂತರ ಖಾದರ್‌ರವರನ್ನು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಹೀನಾಯವಾಗಿ ಹಿಯ್ಯಾಳಿಸಲು ತೊಡಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಜಾಲತಾಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಕ್ರಿಯರಾಗಿರುವವರು ಅದನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಿರಬಹುದು. ಖಾದರ್‌ರವರನ್ನು ಹಿಯ್ಯಾಳಿಸಲು ಅವರು ಬಳಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಶಬ್ದ ಮತ್ತು ಭಾಷೆ ಯಾರನ್ನೂ ಒಮ್ಮೆ ರೊಚ್ಚಿಗೆಬ್ಬಿಸುವಷ್ಟು ಕೆಟ್ಟದ್ದಾಗಿರುತಿತ್ತು. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆಯಾಗಿ ಬರುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಬರಹಗಳೂ ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಪ್ರಚೋದನಾತ್ಮಕ ವಾಗಿರಿತ್ತಿತ್ತು.
ಈ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ವಿಚಾರವನ್ನು ಉಲ್ಲೇಖಿಸುತ್ತಾ, ಅವರಿಗೇ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿ ಉರೂಸ್ ಸಮಾರಂಭದ ವೇದಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಖಾದರ್‌ರವರು... "ಊರಲ್ಲಿ ಮೋಸಮಾಡಿ ವಿದೇಶಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಕುಳಿತು ನನಗೆ ಬುದ್ದಿ ಹೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ನಾನು ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಕಡೆ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ, ಹೋಗುತ್ತೇನೆ .. ನಾನು ತಪ್ಪಿದರೆ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ತಿದ್ದಲು ಉಲೆಮಾಗಳಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಈ ಲೋಫರ್ ಗಳಿಂದ ನಾನು ಪಾಠ ಕಲಿಯುವ ಅಗತ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ...." ಎಂದು
ಹೇಳಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಈ ವಿಡಿಯೋದ ತುಣುಕನ್ನು ವೈರಲ್ ಮಾಡಿ ವಿದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಪ್ರವಾಸಿಗಳನ್ನು ಖಾದರ್ ಅವಮಾನ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎಂದು ಬಿಂಬಿಸಲು ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವುದನ್ನು ನಾವು ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಈಗಲು ಕೆಲವರು ಖಾದರ್ ವಿರುಧ್ಧದ ತಮ್ಮ ಬರಹ ಹಾಗೂ ವಾಯ್ಸ್ ಮೆಸ್ಸೇಜುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ತೀರಾ ಕೆಟ್ಟ ಶಬ್ಧ ಭಾಷೆ ಬಳಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಜಾಲತಾಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ಮರ್ಯಾದೆಯನ್ನು ಮೀರಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿರು ಖಾದರ್ ಪರ ವಿರೋಧ ಚರ್ಚೆಗಳು ಸಮುದಾಯದ ಮಾನ ಹರಾಜು ಹಾಕುತ್ತಿದೆ ಇದು ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೇ ನಿಲ್ಲಲಿ ಎಂಬುದು ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞಾವಂತ ಮುಸ್ಲಿಮರ ಅಪೇಕ್ಷೆ.
UTK has insulted innocent loafers by calling communal goons as loafers
Mr. U T Khader,
Please do not twist your statement. You clearly made a statement " Dongi maadi gulfge hodavaru". Even i was a huge admirer of you till date for your simple nature and work which you have done during your tenure as a minister and MLA. But that one statement has made a big difference. I watched the video 2 to 3 times to check about the background. You were referring to a group which conducts meeting in hills(gudde) under torch light. But hope you remember that same group was in your favor when you first contested for bye-election after your father's demise. My request is not to have over confidence, which may result in ego and ultimately result in losing. So many egoistic emperors in the world have lost their empire and power. Therefore, you are not a match at all. If you want to condemn a particular group or party, name it and condemn it in specific & do not make generalized statement. Your statement of "DONGI MAADI GULFGE HOGIDDU" has hurt the sentiments of NRI community who have come here away from their families to earn a livelihood.
Kindly take your time to tender an apology for your words. May Almighty Allah bless you with good health and strength to serve the society and community in a better way.
I think in this state election only one thing will happen for sure "Ibbara Jagala Muraneyavanige Laaba"...
Last year Sangh Parivar leaders were hurt when UT Khader said those who oppose constitution should be hit with slipper. This clearly proved that they oppose constitution. Now some SDPI leaders are hurt when UT Khader said that he wants to learn lesson from Ulema and not from loafer or a person who avoids work and spends time doing useless things. This also proved who are loafers.
“Loafer” is not an abusive or derogatory word. “Communal” is more abusive and insulting word compared to “Loafer”.
Election won't decide anyone's fate. Fate will be decided by the Creator. Our prayers are with self-less politicans like UT Khader.
Feel very sad to see some fringe groups unnecessarily pulling the legs of an honest politician in the name of religion. When I embraced Islam several years ago Muslims used to spend time by fighting each other on religious matters and absurd rituals like Urus, Maulid, ratheeb etc. Now Muslims are fighting with each other by forming political parties. When these Muslims will learn lessons? When they realise their responsibilities? When they stop petty politics?
First of all loafer is not an abusive word. It just means an idle person or a ‘poli huduga’ in Kannada. But the uneducated loafers do not know the meaning of loafer i think. That’s why they making it a big issue.
Dikkara ninage Mr Khader
Bara barutha raayara kudure katthe yaayithu.....
Khader bhai... muslim community had very good hope on you & supported you on full extent... But you are going towards normal politician behind money & seat.... SUPPORT doesnt mean that only to muslims... A true leader will treat all community fair & equally... which congress & other party leaders couldnt do... Instead you are blaming our muslim brothers without having basic knowledge.... Politician doesnt understand normal person way of living that how they spend daily life & how much efforts they are taking to fulfill their family needs...
In sha allah your fate will be decided in this election..
Let the Election results tell who are loafers and cheaters In sha Allah.
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