India Rejects US Report on Religious Freedom

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released a report highlighting deteriorating conditions for religious minorities in India and recommending targeted sanctions against India's intelligence agency, R&AW, over alleged assassination plots against Sikh separatists. The report criticizes Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party for promoting hateful rhetoric against Muslims and other minorities. India has rejected the findings, labeling the report as politically motivated and biased, and suggesting that the USCIRF itself should be seen as an 'entity of concern'. Despite these allegations, analysts suggest that the US is unlikely to impose sanctions due to strategic interests with India, especially concerning countering China's influence in Asia. The report also addresses similar concerns in Vietnam, recommending it as a 'country of particular concern' due to its control over religious affairs. The Indian government maintains that its policies are inclusive and challenge the credibility of the USCIRF's findings.