USCIRF Report on Religious Freedom criticises Modi govt in India

"Incidents of religiously-motivated and communal violence reportedly have increased for three consecutive years. The states of Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarhi, Gujarat, Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan tend to have the greatest number of religiously-motivated attacks and communal violence incidents. Non-governmental  organizations (NGOs) and religious leaders, including from the Muslim, Christian, and Sikh communities, attributed the initial increase to religiously-divisive campaigning in advance of the country’s 2014 general election," the annual report for 2015, which was released on Thursday stated.

 

Criticising the ruling party in India, the report said: "Since the election, religious minority communities have been subject to derogatory comments by politicians linked to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and numerous violent attacks and forced conversions by Hindu nationalist groups, such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Vishva Hindu Varishad (VHP)."

 

The report, however, said that Modi's statement in mid-February in support of religious freedom was a "positive development."

 

Based on the concerns in India, USCIRF has again placed the country on its Tier 2 list, where it has been since 2009.

 

Reacting to the report, a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said: "It appears to be based on limited understanding of India, its constitution and its society. We take no cognizance of this report."