India rejects its criticism in U.S. State Department spiritual freedom report

India Friday rejected its criticism in a U.S. State Department report on spiritual freedom, saying it’s unlucky that “vote bank politics is being practised in international relations”.

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External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated the commentary of India within the report relies on “motivated inputs and biased views”.

The annual report on worldwide spiritual freedom, launched by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, alleged that assaults on members of the minority communities, together with killings, assaults, and intimidation, befell in India all through 2021.

“We have noted the release of the U.S. State Department 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom, and ill-informed comments by senior U.S. officials,” Bagchi stated.

“It is unfortunate that vote bank politics is being practised in international relations. We would urge that assessments based on motivated inputs and biased views be avoided,” he added.

Bagchi was responding to media queries on the report “As a naturally pluralistic society, India values religious freedom and human rights. In our discussions with the U.S., we have regularly highlighted issues of concern there, including racially and ethnically motivated attacks, hate crimes and gun violence,” he stated.

The India part of the report talked about incidents of assaults on the spiritual minorities “Attacks on members of religious minority communities, including killings, assaults, and intimidation occurred throughout the year. These included incidents of cow vigilantism’ against non-Hindus based on allegations of cow slaughter or trade in beef,” stated the India part of the report.