India on Monday (March 16) rejected the annual report issued by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which called on the US administration to link security assistance and bilateral trade with India to improvements in the country’s religious freedom record. The USCIRF report, released earlier this month, criticised India over alleged violations of religious freedom and recommended “targeted sanctions” against individuals and entities such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Research and Analysis Wing (R&amp;AW), holding them responsible for the situation.&nbsp;The Indian government has consistently dismissed USCIRF’s annual assessments. Monday’s response from the Ministry of External Affairs echoed similar reactions issued in previous years. Responding to the latest report, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the USCIRF has repeatedly portrayed a “distorted and selective” picture of India based on “questionable sources and ideological narratives”.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explosions-rock-kabul-as-afghanistan-blames-pakistan-for-airstrikes-as-tensions-escalate-1773685349894">Explosions rock Kabul as Afghanistan blames Pakistan for airstrikes as tensions escalate</a>&nbsp;“We have taken note of the latest report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). We categorically reject its motivated and biased characterisation of India,” he said. “For several years now, USCIRF has persisted in presenting a distorted and selective picture of India, relying on questionable sources and ideological narratives rather than objective facts.” Jaiswal also said the commission should examine issues within the United States instead of continuing what he described as selective criticism of India.&nbsp;He added that the USCIRF should reflect on “disturbing incidents of vandalism and attacks on Hindu temples in the US, selective targeting of India, and growing intolerance and intimidation of members of the Indian diaspora in the US, which merit serious attention”. The USCIRF report recommended that future US security cooperation and trade ties with India be linked to measurable improvements in religious freedom. It reiterated its call for India to be designated as a “country of particular concern” and cited cases that it said indicated a worsening environment for religious freedom.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-threatens-uss-gerald-ford-strike-group-iran-warns-gulf-states-over-us-warship-support-1773683113381/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-threatens-uss-gerald-ford-strike-group-iran-warns-gulf-states-over-us-warship-support-1773683113381/embed</a>&nbsp;Rejecting these claims, Jaiswal said such “repeated misrepresentations” only undermine the credibility of the USCIRF.The report also alleged that religious freedom in India continued to deteriorate in 2025, claiming authorities enforced laws that targeted religious minorities and their places of worship.&nbsp;“Several states undertook efforts to introduce or strengthen anti-conversion laws to include harsher prison sentences. Indian authorities also facilitated widespread detention and illegal expulsion of citizens and religious refugees and tolerated vigilante attacks against religious minority communities,” the report said.

India slams USCIRF report as 'biased', rejects allegations on religious freedom

India on Monday (March 16) rejected the annual report issued by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which called on the US administration to link security assistance and bilateral trade with India to improvements in the country’s religious freedom record. The USCIRF report, released earlier this month, criticised India over alleged violations of religious freedom and recommended “targeted sanctions” against individuals and entities such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), holding them responsible for the situation. The Indian government has consistently dismissed USCIRF’s annual assessments. Monday’s response from the Ministry of External Affairs echoed similar reactions issued in previous years. Responding to the latest report, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the USCIRF has repeatedly portrayed a “distorted and selective” picture of India based on “questionable sources and ideological narratives”. Also Read: Explosions rock Kabul as Afghanistan blames Pakistan for airstrikes as tensions escalate “We have taken note of the latest report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). We categorically reject its motivated and biased characterisation of India,” he said. “For several years now, USCIRF has persisted in presenting a distorted and selective picture of India, relying on questionable sources and ideological narratives rather than objective facts.” Jaiswal also said the commission should examine issues within the United States instead of continuing what he described as selective criticism of India. He added that the USCIRF should reflect on “disturbing incidents of vandalism and attacks on Hindu temples in the US, selective targeting of India, and growing intolerance and intimidation of members of the Indian diaspora in the US, which merit serious attention”. The USCIRF report recommended that future US security cooperation and trade ties with India be linked to measurable improvements in religious freedom. It reiterated its call for India to be designated as a “country of particular concern” and cited cases that it said indicated a worsening environment for religious freedom. https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-threatens-uss-gerald-ford-strike-group-iran-warns-gulf-states-over-us-warship-support-1773683113381/embed Rejecting these claims, Jaiswal said such “repeated misrepresentations” only undermine the credibility of the USCIRF. The report also alleged that religious freedom in India continued to deteriorate in 2025, claiming authorities enforced laws that targeted religious minorities and their places of worship. “Several states undertook efforts to introduce or strengthen anti-conversion laws to include harsher prison sentences. Indian authorities also facilitated widespread detention and illegal expulsion of citizens and religious refugees and tolerated vigilante attacks against religious minority communities,” the report said.

India rejected the USCIRF report on religious freedom, calling it biased and distorted after it urged the US to link trade and security ties to improvements

New Delhi on Thursday (Oct 3) rubbished a report by US government commission alleging decline in religious freedom in India. Earlier, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) had called India a "country of particular concern". In a strong reply, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said it was an attempt to "peddle a motivated narrative". Randhir Jaiswal, the ministry’s official spokesperson, said their views on the "biased organisation with a political agenda" are well known.

"Our views on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) are well known. It is a biased organisation with a political agenda. It continues to misrepresent facts and peddles a motivated narrative about India. We reject this malicious report, which only serves to discredit USCIRF further," Jaiswal said.

India also told the US commission to look within and urged it to address human rights issues in their own nation.

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"We would urge USCIRF to desist from such agenda-driven efforts. The USCIRF would also be well advised to utilise its time more productively on addressing human rights issues in the United States," he added.

USCIRF, in its report, had alleged that attacks on religious minorities and their places of worship in India had increased due to prevailing misinformation and disinformation. The commission then urged Washington DC to designate India as a "country of particular concern for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom".

“This report highlights how, throughout 2024, individuals have been killed, beaten, and lynched by vigilante groups, religious leaders have been arbitrarily arrested, and homes and places of worship have been demolished. These events constitute particularly severe violations of religious freedom," the commission said in its report.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwimm4WksfKIAxVGR2wGHetQAXcQxfQBKAB6BAgMEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/resulted-in-heavy-loss-india-day-parade-in-us-faces-hate-over-ram-mandir-tableau-750206" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/resulted-in-heavy-loss-india-day-parade-in-us-faces-hate-over-ram-mandir-tableau-750206&amp;ved=2ahUKEwimm4WksfKIAxVGR2wGHetQAXcQxfQBKAB6BAgMEAE">‘Resulted in heavy loss,’ India Day parade in US faces hate over Ram Mandir tableau</a>

It’s not uncommon for the US agency to accuse India of infringing upon rights of religious minorities.

In May, while reacting to a similar report published by the USCIRF, Indian foreign ministry had said, “We really have no expectation that the USCIRF will even seek to understand India's diverse, pluralistic and democratic ethos. Their efforts to interfere in the largest electoral exercise in the world will never succeed." 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

New Delhi on Thursday (Oct 3) rubbished a report by US government commission alleging decline in religious freedom in India. Earlier, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) had called India a "country of particular concern".

New Delhi on Thursday (Oct 3) rubbished a report by US government commission alleging decline in religious freedom in India. Earlier, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) had called India a "country of particular concern". In a strong reply, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said it was an attempt to "peddle a motivated narrative". Randhir Jaiswal, the ministry’s official spokesperson, said their views on the "biased organisation with a political agenda" are well known. "Our views on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) are well known. It is a biased organisation with a political agenda. It continues to misrepresent facts and peddles a motivated narrative about India. We reject this malicious report, which only serves to discredit USCIRF further," Jaiswal said. India also told the US commission to look within and urged it to address human rights issues in their own nation. Also read: US military releases video of ‘unsafe’ Russian fighter jet manoeuvre near Alaska "We would urge USCIRF to desist from such agenda-driven efforts. The USCIRF would also be well advised to utilise its time more productively on addressing human rights issues in the United States," he added. USCIRF, in its report, had alleged that attacks on religious minorities and their places of worship in India had increased due to prevailing misinformation and disinformation. The commission then urged Washington DC to designate India as a "country of particular concern for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom". “This report highlights how, throughout 2024, individuals have been killed, beaten, and lynched by vigilante groups, religious leaders have been arbitrarily arrested, and homes and places of worship have been demolished. These events constitute particularly severe violations of religious freedom," the commission said in its report. Also read: ‘Resulted in heavy loss,’ India Day parade in US faces hate over Ram Mandir tableau It’s not uncommon for the US agency to accuse India of infringing upon rights of religious minorities. In May, while reacting to a similar report published by the USCIRF, Indian foreign ministry had said, “We really have no expectation that the USCIRF will even seek to understand India's diverse, pluralistic and democratic ethos. Their efforts to interfere in the largest electoral exercise in the world will never succeed." (With inputs from agencies)

‘Address issues in US,’ India roasts US agency alleging abuses against religious minorities

Religious freedom is severely restricted in Pakistan and the country does nothing about it according to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

The international organisation's&nbsp;annual report empasisized upon ''the systematic enforcement of blasphemy and anti-Ahmadiyya laws, and failure to address forced conversions of religious minorities and severely restricted religious freedom in Pakistan.''

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-demands-justice-from-pakistan-for-journalist-daniel-pearls-brutal-murder-in-2002-296565" hreflang="en">US demands justice from Pakistan for journalist Daniel Pearl's brutal murder in 2002</a>

The commissionwhich monitors religious freedoms around the world&nbsp;recommended the&nbsp;US government that it should redesignate Pakistan as a country of ''particular concern.''

While referring to the case of Asia Bibi&nbsp;who spent years on death row after being accused of blasphemy and&nbsp;was acquitted last year, the body said ''there were high-profile acquittals, the blasphemy law remained in effect.''

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-fm-rebukes-journalist-who-questioned-him-on-social-distancing-296601" hreflang="en">Pak FM rebukes journalist who questioned him on social distancing</a>

''USCIRF is aware of nearly 80 individuals who remained imprisoned for blasphemy, with at least half facing a life sentence or death,” it further said in the report.

The US&nbsp;panel highlighted the plight of Ahmadiya Muslims and said ''they continue&nbsp;to face severe persecution from authorities as well as societal harassment due to their beliefs, with both the authorities and mobs targeting their houses of worship.''

It also said that 1,000 women are forcibly converted to Islam each year in Pakistan.&nbsp;

Religious freedom is severely restricted in Pakistan and the country does nothing about it according to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

Religious freedom is severely restricted in Pakistan and the country does nothing about it according to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). The international organisation's annual report empasisized upon ''the systematic enforcement of blasphemy and anti-Ahmadiyya laws, and failure to address forced conversions of religious minorities and severely restricted religious freedom in Pakistan.'' Also read: US demands justice from Pakistan for journalist Daniel Pearl's brutal murder in 2002 The commissionwhich monitors religious freedoms around the world recommended the US government that it should redesignate Pakistan as a country of ''particular concern.'' While referring to the case of Asia Bibi who spent years on death row after being accused of blasphemy and was acquitted last year, the body said ''there were high-profile acquittals, the blasphemy law remained in effect.'' Also read: Pak FM rebukes journalist who questioned him on social distancing ''USCIRF is aware of nearly 80 individuals who remained imprisoned for blasphemy, with at least half facing a life sentence or death,” it further said in the report. The US panel highlighted the plight of Ahmadiya Muslims and said ''they continue to face severe persecution from authorities as well as societal harassment due to their beliefs, with both the authorities and mobs targeting their houses of worship.'' It also said that 1,000 women are forcibly converted to Islam each year in Pakistan.

Religious freedom severely restricted in Pakistan: USCIRF report

A US panel wants to blacklist India on religious freedom. India has rejected the report, calling it a "new level of misrepresentation."

Gravitas: Why India should stop seeking validation from the West

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India slams USCIRF report as 'biased', rejects allegations on religious freedom

‘Address issues in US,’ India roasts US agency alleging abuses against religious minorities

Religious freedom severely restricted in Pakistan: USCIRF report

Gravitas: Why India should stop seeking validation from the West