US flags India ‘country of particular concern’ amid worsening religious freedoms

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on October 2 has called for Narendra Modi-led India to be designated as a “Country of Particular Concern” for worsening religious freedoms in the country.

“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,” read the damning report, which highlights human rights abuses in India.

The report also criticised the Modi government’s 2019 decision to disenfranchise religious minorities through Citizenship Amendment Act.

The report also revealed how Indian government officials use misinformation and disinformation to incite violence against religious minorities and their places of worship.

“The government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reinforced discriminatory nationalist policies, perpetuated hateful rhetoric, and failed to address communal violence disproportionately affecting Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, Jews, and Adivasis (indigenous peoples),” noted the US federal government’s report.