Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Indian Government Rejects US Commission Report

Anjana Pasricha

   India has rejected the findings of the US Commission on International
   Religious Freedom's annual report, calling the commission's findings
   "biased and tendentious."

   In its annual report released Tuesday,the USCIRF proposed designating
   India as a "country of particular concern," saying thatreligious
   freedom conditions in India experienced a drastic turn downward in
   2019.It recommended that India should be placed on a blacklist
   ofcountries with uniquely poor records on protecting freedom of
   worship.

   In a sharp statement, the foreign ministry saidthe commission's
   comments are not new. But it added the recentassessment, which it
   characterized as a "misrepresentation," has "reached new levels."

   "We regard the USCIRF as an organization of particular concern and will
   treat it accordingly,"the foreign ministry said.

   In an apparent reference to dissent expressed by two of the nine
   members of the USCIRF over the proposal,the Indian statement notedthe
   Commission has not been able to "carry its own commissioners in its
   endeavors."

   The U.S congresscreatedUSCIRFin 1998 to make policy recommendations
   about global religious freedom.

   India's rejection of the Commission's views is not new --for more than
   a decade, it has denied visas to members of the USCIRF.

.