America: The US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has said the US would continue raising religious freedom issues in India. These comments came during his interview with India Today.
Garcetti also said that there is a consensus in the US regarding the manufacture of jet engines in India. These engines will help the Indian military capability significantly. He emphasised that both Democrats and Republicans viewed India as a “close and closer friend”.
The USCIRF Report and why it is significant
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom is an arm of the Federal Government that investigates violations of religious freedom in countries across the world.
A few weeks ago, the USCIRF criticized India over its “failure to ensure religious freedom to people.” The Indian Government rejected the Report as baseless and malicious.
Last November before his confirmation as the US Ambassador to India, Garcetti had declared his intention to take up religious freedom issues as a core principle and not as an obligation.
During the interview, Ambassador Garcetti defended the USCIRF Report. He described it as factual and objective.
Modi’s first state visit to the United States
Garcetti’s remarks come in the backdrop of Modi’s first state visit to the US in his nine years as India’s PM. While he has visited America numerous times, none of those visits were state visits.
PM Modi will travel to the US on June 21 and return to India on June 24.
During Modi’s visit to the United States, Modi and President Biden are expected to talk on several bilateral issues like trade and security. India and America are members of the Quad, a 4-country organization that aims to keep the Indo-Pacific region stable.
Modi will start his US visit by attending the International Yoga Conference at the United Nations and then proceed to Washington, D.C.
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