The government on July 2 took aim once again at the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) over comments expressing “concerns” over the treatment of minorities, human rights advocates and media, which follow its report this year downgrading India’s ratings on religious freedom.
“USCIRF continues to misrepresent facts time and again in its statements and reports in pursuance of its motivated agenda. Such actions only serve to strengthen concerns about the credibility and objectivity of the organization,” the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said, responding to a series of tweets posted on the USCIRF handle that criticised the Modi government.
The tweets included a comment by USCIRF Commissioner David Curry, who accused the government of “continued repression of critical voices — especially religious minorities and those reporting on and advocating for them”, attaching a media report about the arrest of Gujarat activists Teesta Setalvad, R.B. Sreekumar and Sanjeev Bhatt.
