India has strongly objected to the report of the Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and termed it as biased and incorrect. The report, released in June by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), recommended the US administration to designate India and several other countries as ‘countries of particular concern’ in the context of religious freedom.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a statement, “We have noticed the biased and incorrect report of the Commission on International Religious Freedom regarding India. Reports like these testify that those who framed it have very little understanding of India and its constitutional structure, its plurality and its democratic ethos.
Arindam Bagchi said that it is regrettable that USCIRF continues to misrepresent facts time and again in its statements and reports as an agenda. Such reports raise questions on the objectivity and credibility of an organization.
The report, released in June, recommended the US’s Biden administration to designate China, Pakistan, Afghanistan and 11 other countries as “countries of particular concern” in terms of religious freedom, besides India. India has expressed its strong objection to this report. However, the Biden government of America is by no means obliged to accept these recommendations of the Biden Administration Commission.
Earlier, the United Nations Human Rights Office had commented on India on the arrest of social activist Teesta Setalvad, to which the Ministry of External Affairs gave a befitting reply. Arindam Bagchi had dismissed the UN’s remarks as completely wrong and undesirable. India responded to the UN, saying that the remark interferes with the country’s independent judicial system.