Indian-Americans Say USCIRF Report on Religious Freedom is Biased Against India

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has named India “Countries of Particular Concern”.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has named India under “Countries of Particular Concern”, blacklisting it as one of the worst violators of religious freedoms in 2021.

(Photo: iStockphoto)

A group of credible Indian-Americans expressed their concern and disappointment against the latest report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. Some non-profit organisations based in the US believe that the report submitted to the Biden administration is biased against India.

According to the report, USCIRF recommended to the US administration to officially designate China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and 11 other nations as "Country of Particular Concern" as far as religious freedom is concerned.

"The USCIRF's report on India is biased through selection and omissions fuelled by anti-India campaigns in the United States."

Khanderao Kand, Member of Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS).

Even though the recommendations by USCIRF's annual report are not binding on the government, the US-based policy research and awareness institutes and Indian diaspora-focused groups said the report fails to include different steps that India has taken to ensure religious freedom in the country.

Perspective on India's Citizenship Act 

According to Kand, the India's Citizenship Act is a mechanism of enabling refugees, who face religious persecution in their home countries, get India's citizenship. However, it has been portrayed as a take away citizenship act, he said.

The report did not mention that the National Register of Citizenship, which is a common practice in most democracies will be implemented, Kand said.

"It is disappointing that the report only quoted Muslims from Kashmir but ignored Kashmiri Pandit Hindus who are victims of their terrorism being forced out and murdered. It failed to mention that the situation normalised after the abolition of Article 370."

Jeevan Zutshi, Founder Member, Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD)