THE US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent federal government body, has very rightly expressed its extreme disappointment over the continuous failure of the State Department to designate India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). Despite consistent recommendations by the USCIRF since 2020, the U.S. administration has yet to take this critical step, raising questions about the objectivity and fairness of its approach. The persistent oversight is particularly troubling given the egregious violations against religious minorities in India, with a focus on Muslims and Christians.
When compared to other countries designated as CPCs, the situation for religious minorities in India is far more alarming. Incidents of violence especially against Muslims have become a frequent occurrence there. Voices are also being raised that the Indian Muslims face the risk of genocide. Then with the apparent support of the judiciary, the Indian Muslims are also being denied the space to perform their rituals. Even their mosques are being turned into temples in sheer disregard of religious freedom. The discriminatory legislation such Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) further exposes the evil designs of the BJP government as this potentially exposes millions of Muslims to detention, deportation, and statelessness, particularly when combined with the planned nationwide implementation of the National Register of Citizens. The Modi government has now even started targeting minorities beyond its borders. Recent incidents, such as the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada and the foiling of a plot to kill another Sikh leader in the U.S., serve as clear evidence. We therefore will urge the Biden administration to pay heed to the recommendations of the USCIRF and shun the course of selective and arbitrary assessments. India’s exclusion from the CPC list, despite its alarming religious freedom situation, has fuelled skepticism regarding the objectivity and fairness of the U.S. administration’s approach. The USCIRF’s call for a congressional hearing on the matter underscores the urgency of the situation. It is imperative for the Biden administration to reassess its stance and take decisive action against religious freedom violations in India, whilst rising above any expediency, thus setting a precedent for the protection of minority rights worldwide.
