US commission alleges religious freedom in India deteriorating

A UScommissiononWednesday recommended for the second year in a row that India be placedona blacklist forreligiousfreedom, saying treatment of minorities had deteriorated further.

In addition to India, thecommissioncalledonthe State Department to add Russia, Syria and Vietnam to the blacklist.

Thecommission, which offers recommendations but does not set US policy, said in its annual report that "religiousfreedomconditions in India continued their negative trajectory."

Thecommissionrecommended that the State Department designate India as a "country of particular concern," a blacklist that includes China, Saudi Arabia andPakistan.

Other nations alreadyonthe State Department's blacklist -- which paves the way for sanctions if they do not improve their records,are Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Korea, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

The recommendationonIndia drew a dissent from one commissioner, Johnnie Moore, an appointee of former President Donald Trump.

Moore in a statement said India was "at a crossroads" but noted that it was the world's largest democracy with constitutional guarantees ofreligiousfreedom.

"Of all the countries in the world, India should not be a 'country of particular concern,'" he said.

"It is diversity personified and itsreligiouslife has been its greatest historic blessing."