Govt rejects US report on religious freedom critical of 'attacks' on minorities in India: 'Flawed, motivated, biased'

Govt rejects US report: India slammed the US State Department's 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom saying it flawed, motivated, and biased. The report documents the status of religious freedom in countries across the world. It mentions BJP around 28 times while giving details of the alleged hate crimes and statements made by party leaders against the minorities.

This is not the first time India that US has criticized India on the state of minorities in the country.

‘Based on misinformation’

Responding to the report, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a statement on Tuesday, "We are aware of the release of the US State Department 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom. Regrettably, such reports continue to be based on misinformation and flawed understanding."

He added, "Motivated and biased commentary by some US officials only serves to undermine further the credibility of these reports. We value our partnership with the US and will continue to have frank exchanges on issues of concern to us."

The release of the religious freedom report came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden state visit to the US next month.

On Monday, Rashad Hussain, Ambassador at Large, Office of International Religious Freedom, said at a press conference that "far too many governments, including Russia, India, China and Saudi Arabia, continue to freely target faith community members within their borders".

Report mentions BJP 28 times

The report on India is especially critical of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been referred to around 28 times. The report mentions the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) 24 times and the Bajrang Dal seven times.

It also documented the alleged hate speeches and instigating or divisive statements made by BJP leaders across the country.

"BJP state politician Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul said that Muslims should be set ablaze; PC George, a former legislator in Kerala, encouraged Hindus and Christians to not eat at restaurants run by Muslims; and former BJP Rajasthan state legislator Gyan Dev Ahuja encouraged Hindus to kill Muslims suspected of cow slaughter," the report said.

"In June, several parts of the country reported violent protests and acts of arson after spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal from the country's ruling BJP made televised remarks about the Prophet Muhammad which were widely seen as offensive by Muslims," it said.

The report also mentioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah's public meeting in Hyderabad, where he promised to end employment and educational quotas for religious minorities in Telangana if the BJP was voted to power in the state Assembly polls due in late 2023.

Even as the Central government questioned the report's credibility, names of people like Mohammad Zubair, Bilkis Bano, Umar Khalid, among others, also figured in the report. The report detailed all cases of alleged hate crimes against people from all communities, and not just minorities.

Must Read: Hearing Postponed! Court to Rehear Petitions Against the Release of Bilkis Bano Culprits

Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER