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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Shiva Lingam and Youni
LINGAM & YOUNI
Lingam and Yoni in Sanskrit means the male and female sexual organs respectively. Hindus are allowed to worship anything – including sexual organs. It is not unknown for them to name their children as Shiva Lingam (God Shiva’s sexual organ) or Rama Lingam (God Rama’s sexual organ), (in some places in Karnataka, the gods demand both male and females to pray naked together).
“One day the sage Atri was performing tapas with his wife Anasuya. Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva came and offered him a boon, but Atri remained silent, meditating. Then the three gods went to Anasuya. Siva had his linga in his hand, Visnu was full of erotic feeling, and Brahma was beside himself with desire, saying to Anasuya, ‘Make love with me or I will die.’ When she heard this coarse speech, Anasuya made no reply, for, although she feared the anger of the gods, she was true to her husband. But they were overcome with delusion, and they raped her by force. Then she became angry and she cursed Siva to be worshiped as a linga, Brahma to be worshiped in the form of a head, and Vishnu to be worshiped as feet, in order to ridicule them all, and she cursed them all to be reborn as her sons. Because of this, Siva was reborn as Durvasas.
comment 16#rum... samadhana kanappa ... when allah can allot 1:4 and 1:72 in jannath .. dont worry he will allot 1000 also ... bejar madkobeda guru ... samadhana nimma kashta novu artha agatte ... adakke anthane bunder nalli burnol and itch guard sigthade from 2014 . nam faizhal bhai ne distrubutor ... please go and tell my name ... 50% discount bere kodthare ... hahaha
ALLAH can bring 1000 0f zakir naik. Allah is the best plaaner.
We want people like Brother BOPANNA Brother Naren. Do not hurt them by Cursing,they are innocent they are not aware of Allah or Islam. Let us try our best to knowledge them about Life after Death. So that they too can join us in Allah's Beautiful Jannath. We can just pray for their Hidayath rest all in Allah's Hand.
\#9 , mr ANAL\", haha allah is the best planner? We saw the plan when 8 of them were given tickets to Jannat .... maybe the 72 virgins were bored waiting for them ?"
Hahaha superb maama ... chaddi jarisodaralle busy antha kanuthe ... enu madakke agalla 4 wives and mele 72 wives option iddaga ... chaddi haakodakke purusottu yellide .. hahaha ... nin ummah chummah kathe gottu bidappa ... hgappa working hours nangu and ningu ... toilet correct agi tolililla andre arab milk shake hodittaane :) haha... hogu hogu ... hogabekadre chaddi haakondu hogappa , papa chaddi gala mele dwesha ondu kade , 4 options na maintain mado bharadalli chaddi bagge ne gamana iralla ... muahhhhhhh.....henge mama ...
Center wants to ban peace promoter like Dr Zakir naik but not hate mongers like sangh parivars. Dr naik has inspired millions around the world towards truth and peace which doesn't go down the throats of anti muslims. He is internationally respected man even by the non muslim leaders. India need many more men like Dr Zakir Naik to remove misconceptions and promote the truth.
naren kotian, singapore
After reading your 9 lines of comments i can only say that as a Fenku Bhakt only you are best at Fenku. I am not saying like you that i will do this and that. Because of frustration you are himself trying to make proud and happy. Look at your anti-national comment already 9 dislikes has given. Never call yourself again as a nationalist. You and your sanghis cant be nationalist. Lo magane Ninge yen gottu Muslim ummah takattu. Ummah manassu madidre nin tarah Billions chaddigala chaddi in seconds jarisabahudu.
kill naren ... hahaha ... we can make out how third rated jihadis are frustrated ....magalchiiiii...... mark my words ,if you are dreaming about another partition ... it is just day dream ... gone or the days ,where back stabbing from behind used to happen ... when it comes to india ...ninnatha koti jana gun ethkondu bandru ... we nationalist indians will face and ruthlessly massacre for trying to split our nation ... look at 3 likes for this anti national comment , wwho supports his version of partition ....sanghis and bhangis na eradicate madakke neenalla , nin entire ummah manas madidru sadya illa ... dont give buildup ... hogo le fish maaro time aithu ....bholo bharath mata ki jai... vande mataram ... india is safe under our powerful modi, jihadists are getting frustrated day by day as they are losing grip .. so it is truly visible .look at mujra and khoja dance u r ummah is doing infront of israel , then u think about india .... hahaha...
Kuffars are on full scale devilish mode. Let them plan, Allah is the best planner.
Religion of PIECE ! India should build stronger jails for Naik and his followers
naren before you ban youtube regards all thinks you first understand the truthness after i will not get you,,, try to get truth ness
#2 naren kotian
Relax man! Relax! In one breath how much you will speak bad about zakir naik and his followers. You are missing one point here indian govt must monitor foreign funding of terrorist organization RSS and its other groups. Also have to keep close vigil on his sympathisers , enact goonda act.
What do you think only you have mouth to speak. You cheddi bhakt!!!
Naren, everyone know that hawala king is once ratayatra master and UAE business man who is changing sanghis black money into white money who took chaywala to dubai visit.
Neevu maadiruva paayikaana bekadastiruvaga innobbar paayikaane hudukikondu hogabedi iruvudanne tindu bidi, hotte uri sariyaagabahudu
NARENA ...Burnol hachko ...you can ban PEACE but you CANT STOP INDIA BEING PIECE .....because of you people another Freedom struggle soon start to eradicate all Sanghis and Bhangis .......
JAI HIND
We condemn this and ask Supreme court to intervene and tell Center to avoid such cunning acts and miss leading normal citizens
monitor hawala network ,90% funds they get via hawala ... this particular segment doesnot use banking system much .put him on interpol most wanted list , ban his programs and youtube . keep close vigil on his sympathisers , enact goonda act . profiling is must as entire world is facing jihadist threats , we must screen like israelis and even trump is keen to follow and japan already imposed it .
It doesnt matter to those who have IMAAN in their heart...
Millions of honest people who look for TRUTH have already Got the message of the TRUTH of Worshiping one TRUE GOD...and bringing them near to the TRUTH.
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