A US government panel renewed calls Monday to blacklist India over religious freedom, saying that treatment of minorities has continued to worsen under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom offers recommendations but does not set policy and there is little expectation that the State Department will accept its stance on India, a growing US partner.
The State Department each year lists countries where it sees particular concern on religious freedom, with the prospect of sanctions without improvement.
The independent commission, whose members are appointed by the president and congressional party leaders, supported all of the State Department’s latest designations which included China, Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia and Saudi Arabia.
It however recommended that the State Department add several countries including India, Nigeria and Vietnam.
The annual report pointed in India to violence and destruction of
