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.
Comments
Rikacha , it is how u interpret ... he said each indians will get 15 lakhs if entire black money is un earthed .. he never said he will transfer ... got it ... have some common sense while commenting ... true muslim will never beg for money .. u go and buy any apartment or site after december 31st then u will understand what u will earn .. FYI real estate already fell by 25% . common man is happy ... sumne matadbeku antha matadbardu mari ... 15 lakhs yaavtaraha benefits antha explain maadthini india kke bandaaga sigu ... pork and yenne hoditha discuss madana ... oka na ?
I did not say will give 15 Lakh but your Modi said it....if he cant fulfill his promise....should ask forgiveness from us.......still licking aas of those richests of richests.....
hahaha ... itch guard kodipa ... thumba kirchadtavne :) rikacha ... kelasa madade 15 lakhs kelo chaprasi nan maklanne nodode kushi ... 2019 also Mr Modi will be again PM of India ... hahaha ... in earlier surgical strike porkis were targetted and this surgical strike black money supporters and mini pakistanis were hit hard ... so we can understand their frustration ...
Modi gave people trouble and it is not worth at all....if it was for 15 Lakhs, waiting could have been worth.....where is the election promise....he won to give trouble....he will suffer for it....eliminating black money is fine but the way he did it is bullshit...
This is the result of voting Besharam Janatha PARTY.
The Pics speaks alot.. frustrated woman sitting. What is the stigma of her.. But PM MODI enjoying his tour in JAPAN... Time will teach him...
Sure, people's curse on him..
All Because of selecting a chaiwala. Bhatks come on still you support this chaiwala Fenku?? National wants to know. People are suffering day by day.
Every one CURSING ......There is a saying that the curses of the innocents will not go WASTE.....
the scheme was good, but it is manhandled, by not printing the new notes in advance.....Has any one seen this xxxxx , feku, daku, jaitley, advani, bachans, adanis, ambanis in lines to get new notes .....They must have received home delivery ....I think they are living on air ....
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