India rejects US body's comments on attacks on Gurudwaras

The Government of India has strongly rejected comments made by two senior officials of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). These officials had claimed that violent attacks were carried out targeting Sikh Gurudwaras in India. New Delhi on Tuesday dismissed these claims, describing the body as "biased" and possessing an "overtly" political agenda.

Responding to the matter, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "USCIRF is a biased and ill-informed body whose agenda is clearly political." He further added that an organisation harbouring prejudice cannot be taken seriously. Jaiswal questioned why the USCIRF and its commissioners remain consistently silent when attacks occur at religious sites in the US or when the Indian community is targeted with racial slurs and hate crimes.

According to an NDTV report, two senior officials of the USCIRF expressed concern last week regarding "attacks" on Gurudwaras in India. They urged the US government to pressure New Delhi to ensure that those perpetrating such violence are held accountable.

USCIRF Commissioner David Anderson wrote on social media, "Over the last few weeks, there have been vigilante attacks targeting Sikh Gurudwaras in India, including attempts to harm religious leaders." Anderson also proposed that US security assistance to India should be linked to the manner in which the Indian government responds to violence that obstructs the rights of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB).

Another commissioner, Joe Grogg, stated that attacks on places of worship in India, including churches, Gurudwaras, and mosques, undermine the rights to freedom of religious belief enshrined in international law. Grogg said, "The US government should continue to pressure the Indian government to ensure the protection of places of worship and that perpetrators of violence are held accountable."

This is not the first time the USCIRF has commented on India. In August, the body had demanded sanctions against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and requested Washington not to grant diplomatic honours to RSS leaders. New Delhi had strongly rejected those comments at the time as well.

USCIRF is a US bipartisan federal government agency. The body provides policy recommendations to the US President, Secretary of State, and Congress, and monitors the implementation of these recommendations.