Indian Government Denounces USCIRF Report as Biased and Politically Motivated

The Indian government has firmly rejected the latest report from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), calling it biased and politically motivated. The USCIRF’s report claims that religious freedom in India has worsened and recommends that the country be designated as a “Country of Particular Concern.”

Misrepresentation of Facts

In a statement addressing media inquiries, Randhir Jaiswal, the Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, criticized the USCIRF for misrepresenting the facts surrounding religious freedom in India. He described the report as promoting a “motivated narrative” that does not reflect the realities on the ground. “Our views on USCIRF are well known; it is a biased organization with a political agenda,” Jaiswal asserted.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) firmly rejected what it termed a “malicious” report, emphasizing that such findings only serve to further discredit the USCIRF. Jaiswal urged the commission to redirect its focus toward addressing human rights issues within the United States rather than pursuing what he described as “agenda-driven” efforts against India.

India has a history of criticizing the USCIRF for its reports on religious freedom, consistently accusing the panel of bias and a lack of understanding of India’s complex social dynamics. This latest rebuke marks yet another chapter in the ongoing tensions between the Indian government and the USCIRF, which has been accused of perpetuating “anti-India propaganda.”

The Indian government remains steadfast in its position against the USCIRF’s findings, emphasizing the importance of an accurate representation of religious freedom in the country. As debates over human rights and religious freedoms continue, both the Indian government and the USCIRF appear entrenched in their respective positions.