Washington. No matter how much America talks about friendship with India, its view of India remains the same. That is why the US State Department report has raised questions about religious freedom in India. It is also said that there has been an increase in violence against minorities in India. Concerns have also been raised about hate speech and anti-conversion laws. Not only this, this time also BJP has been surrounded.
The US State Department releases the International Religious Freedom Report every year. In this, comments are made about the situation in many countries. But India has been criticized in this report for a long time. However, every time India is rejecting it as biased. Last year, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said that such reports are made to spread propaganda. America should seriously consider this.
Hatred in the society increased
The report this time says that even in the year 2023, the condition of religious freedom has continued to be bad. India has seen an alarming rise in anti-conversion laws and hate speech. Apart from this, houses and religious places of the minority community have also been demolished. Targeting the BJP, the report said the BJP-led government had promoted discriminatory nationalist policies, which had fueled hatred in the society. BJP has failed to tackle communal violence against Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, Jews and tribals. UAPA, FCRA, CAA, anti-conversion and homicide laws have targeted religious minorities and their supporters. Referring to Kashmir, it has been said that ever since Article 370 has been abrogated, people have been subjected to atrocities. Many people have been arrested.
The mob attacked the Christians
The report mentions attacks on Christians. Citing data from some NGOs, it has been said that there have been 687 incidents of violence against Christians in the last one year. In Chhattisgarh, mobs of Hindus attacked Christians and vandalized churches. An attempt was also made to convert him. The government has also been criticized for referring to the Manipur violence. Announcing the report, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that people around the world are working hard to protect religious freedom. The report assesses the religious status of nearly 200 countries. We feel that today millions of people are not respecting religious freedom.
Tags: US news, World news
First published: June 27, 2024, 15:49 IST