India reminds US of gun attacks

Hours after US secretary of state Antony J. Blinken on Friday named India as one of the countries where “religious freedom and the rights of religious minorities are under threat, with rising attacks on people and places of worship,” India hit back hard, reminding the US of its “racially and ethnically motivated attacks, hate crimes and gun violence”.

These are of concern to New Delhi, India said, and added that the US should not play “vote-bank politics in international relations.”

The controversy was triggered after the US state department released the “Report on International Religious Freedom 2021” that was critical of India and other nations. New Delhi urged Washington not to base its assessment on “motivated inputs” and to avoid biased views, adding that “as a naturally pluralistic society, India values religious freedom and human rights.”

The US government report was prepared by a team headed by the US ambassador at large for international freedom Rashad Hussain who accused “some officials” in India of “ignoring or even supporting rising attacks on people and places of worship”.

India said, “We have noted the release of the US state department 2021 report on international religious freedom, and illinformed comments by senior US officials. It is unfortunate that vote bank politics is being practiced in international relations. We would urge that assessments based on motivated inputs and biased views be avoided. As a naturally pluralistic society, India values religious freedom and human rights. In our discussions with the US, we have highlighted issues of concern there, including racially and ethnically motivated attacks, hate crimes and gun violence.”