India has rejected the US-based international religious freedom report which appears to have attempted tarnishing India’s secular image by pointing fingers at it plurality.
Interestingly, the report has originated from a country whose President Donald Trump has been surrounded by allegations of targeting Muslims from across the world, showing no compassion to refugees and even children besides routine rape or sexual assault allegations.
India has expressed deep faith and proud of its secular credentials, its status as the largest democracy and pluralistic society with a longstanding commitment to tolerance and inclusion.
The Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shahnawaz Hussain, who represents the minority community of Muslims in the Bharatiya Janata Party for decades and has been a Union Minister as well in the Narendra Modi government, termed the US report as meaningless and absurd.
In response to a question about the latest report on International Religious Freedom published by the US State Department, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights to all its citizens including minority communities.
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It is widely acknowledged India is a vibrant democracy where the Constitution provides protection of religious freedom, and where democratic governance and rule of law further promote and protect the fundamental rights, he said.
India sees no locus standi for a foreign entity or government to pronounce on the state of its citizens constitutionally protected rights, the spokesperson added.
