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.
Bengaluru, Apr 12: The politically weak Muslim community is in fact the second largest group in Karnataka after Dalits, according to a leaked data of a recent caste survey, which finally busted myth of Lingayat and Vokkaliga clout in the state.
Comments
@Thinker, Of course we(Muslims) are 'minority', but far enough to face 'majority' in the election. As the majority are split according into many caste.
Time is no far to unite the Muslims in 1 platform to gain the ultimate political power and i
MA SHA ALLAH Proud to be a MUSLIM! Many more people are there to revert In Sha Allah.. Its Allah who is helping us..
If you notice the statistics, all these communities belong to Hinduism and further these communities are treated as separate or individuals. The culture including worships are also different.
Where as Muslims have though different languages, they are considered as single community because of single method of worship where singular God is their one and only God.
Surprisingly because of this fact, their share is increasing due to attraction to people of other communities. There is no worry in the end, because gradually everyone will know the truth and everyone will belong to the same (that) community, so no difference and no communal hatred at the end.
\ It is HE who has sent the Messenger with Guidance and the religion of Truth, to manifest it Over ALL RELIGIONS, how much ever the unbeliever might not like it ....\" (Qur'an - Ch 9:33)"
Thinker Hell.....
Come out of hell..So called bramins are less in number but ruling all hindus in the name of God. And what else you want???
Beware dear..chaddeezz....
However the MEDIA malign MUSLIM with false images.... Muslims around the world are increasing and it will increase rapid in the coming Years In Shaa ALLAH. The irony is that Many people understood the MEDIA conspiracy did by the IT professional by Cheddi deceivers. Many people learnt more about ISLAM and the reality and the Fact. Muslims are growing not in their own but also many non muslims are converting to ISLAM by learning & getting knowledge of the CREATOR who created us... Those who worship the creator are successful. Those who worship the created things are need to learn who is our CREATOR who CREATED all that exists.
Frankly speaking I trust this portal (i.e. Coastal Digest) right from the beginning only because it published fact news to convey the readers.
Today when I read the above news I am really surprised to know the facts with figures. Even a common man can understand the political power of each community.
Though we (Muslims) constitute a huge number (75 Lac), Very sad know our M.L.A's are just 11 in number which is equal to nothing. Our community is very much backward in political power.
Currently 'Power of Powers' in one and only i.e. \ POLITICAL POWER\". Let all of us think and act for the uplift of the community & our fellow kannadigas by choose a existing political party in fray."
In sha allah soon it will come to No 1 Place
please convey this messege to other media, they have lack of knowledge in getting news
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