The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has said in its latest annual report that minorities in India continue to be mistreated. The commission has recommended that India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), be banned for its alleged involvement in assassination plots against Sikh separatists. The report was released yesterday.
The report claims that the religious freedom situation in India deteriorated in 2024, with attacks and discrimination against minorities increasing. The commission accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “promoting hate speech and disinformation” against Muslims and other religious minorities during last year’s election campaign. The report also said that India should be declared a “country of particular concern” and sanctions should be imposed on RAW as well as a former Indian intelligence officer, Vikas Yadav alias Vikram Yadav. The commission, expressing concern over the situation of minorities in India, cited issues such as rising hate speech, a citizenship law that the United Nations has called “fundamentally discriminatory”, an anti-conversion law, the revocation of Kashmir’s special status and the demolition of Muslim properties. However, analysts say the US government is unlikely to ban India’s move, as the commission’s recommendations are unacceptable.
Washington considers India an important ally against China’s growing influence.
The Indian embassy did not immediately comment on the report. The Indian government has previously rejected such claims, calling them “highly discriminatory”. The Modi government says its policies are beneficial to all communities.
The report could create a new complication in India-US relations, especially as both countries are trying to strengthen their strategic partnership against China. Since 2023, India’s alleged attempts to target Sikh separatists have strained US-India relations, with Washington blaming Vikas Yadav alias Vikram Yadav for a failed plot. India has denied these allegations and described Sikh separatists as a security threat. Relations with Canada have also become strained over the killing of Sikh separatist Nijjar. The US commission’s report should also be seen in the context of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s comments and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ actions. In Maharashtra, violence broke out in Nagpur over Aurangzeb. Fadnavis supported statements that Aurangzeb’s grave was being dug. In his latest podcast, Yogi Adityanath has said in a unique way that if Hindus are safe, Muslims will also be safe. What this statement will mean can only be imagined.
