India on Monday strongly rejected the latest report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), accusing the body of presenting "a distorted and selective picture of India". The government said the findings relied on questionable sources and ignored the broader reality of the country's social and cultural diversity.
Responding to the report, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India categorically rejects what he described as the commission's motivated and biased assessment, reported The Times of India.
"We have taken note of the latest report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. We categorically reject its motivated and biased characterisation of India," said Jaiswal.
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"For several years now, USCIRF has persisted in presenting a distorted and selective picture of India, relying on questionable sources and ideological narratives rather than objective facts. Such repeated misrepresentations only undermine the credibility of the Commission itself," he said.
MEA raises concerns over attacks on Hindu temples in US
In his response, Jaiswal also pointed to incidents affecting the Indian community in the United States. He suggested that the commission should focus on developments within its own country rather than repeatedly criticising India.
"Instead of persisting with selective criticism of India, USCIRF would do well to reflect on the disturbing incidents of vandalism and attacks on Hindu temples in the United States, selective targeting of India, and growing intolerance and intimidation of members of the Indian diaspora in the United States, which merit serious attention," he added.
What the USCIRF report said
The USCIRF's annual report, released on Sunday, raised concerns about religious freedom conditions in India. It recommended targeted sanctions against organisations including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), alleging violations related to religious freedom.
The commission also urged the United States government to designate India as a "country of particular concern', a classification used for countries accused of systematic and serious violations of religious freedom.
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India has repeatedly criticised USCIRF reports in the past, describing them as biased and politically motivated. The government has maintained that such assessments misrepresent isolated incidents while ignoring the country's broader democratic and pluralistic framework.
The latest exchange highlights continuing differences between India and the commission over how religious freedom conditions in the country are assessed and interpreted.
