New Delhi: America has once again raised questions on the state of religious freedom in India. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has expressed concern over the state of religious freedom in India and has also indirectly talked about the steps to be taken against India.

Strategy to put pressure on India

The report was released just hours after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a bilateral official meeting in Washington. Experts are seeing this mid-term report, its language and timing (when the Indian Foreign Minister is in the US) as a strategy to put pressure on India in recent months.

US strategic partnership

India responded strongly and said that instead of running a biased and political agenda, this organization should focus on human rights issues in America. On one hand, America is strengthening its strategic partnership with India but at the same time it has been trying to put pressure on Russia on issues like buying oil, alleged conspiracy to kill pro-Khalistan Gurpatwant Singh Pannu and religious freedom.

USCIRF report

The USCIRF report also mentions cases of hate speech, dissemination of misinformation and incitement against religious minorities by government officials. It also mentions the recommendations made to the US State Department in the USCIRF Annual Report for the year 2024 regarding the poor state of religious freedom in India.

India gave a befitting reply

Under this, it has been said to impose sanctions on Indian officials working against religious freedom, and to include conditions ensuring religious freedom in the US government's defense deal policy with India. On the other hand, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reacted by saying that USCIRF presents events in a distorted manner. Instead of running such an agenda, it should focus on America's issues.