India rejects US government report on religious freedom

India on Thursday rejected a US government report that raised concerns over alleged attacks and discrimination against religious and ethnic mirities in country. “Our principled position remains that we see locus standi for a foreign entity to prounce on state of our citizens’ constitutionally protected rights,” Spokesperson in Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava said. He was replying to a question on report at an online media briefing.

Mandated by US Congress, ‘2019 International Religious Freedom Report’ that documents major instances of violation of religious freedom across world was released by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday.

“India’s vibrant democratic tritions and practices are evident to world. people and government of India are proud of our country’s democratic tritions,” spokesperson said.

“We have a robust public discourse in India and constitutionally mandated institutions that guarantee protection of religious freedom and rule of law,” he ded.

India section of report said that US government officials underscored importance of respecting religious freedom, promoting tolerance and mutual respect with ruling and opposition parties and religious leers belonging to various communities. In ir engment with government officials, media, interfaith harmony organizations and NGOs, US officials emphasised need to dress legitimate concerns of country’s religious mirities, condemn communal rhetoric, and ensure full protection of mirities, it said.

report also referred to revocation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir last August and parliament pass of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in December as major highlights for India last year. “ report is published annually by department of state as part of its legal requirement to US Congress and is an internal document of US government,” Srivastava said.