Committed to tolerance and inclusion: India says rejecting US report on religious freedom

In response to a query on the latest report on International Religious Freedom published by the United States Department of State, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said,"India is proud of its secular credentials, its status as the largest democracy and a pluralistic society with a longstanding commitment to tolerance and inclusion."

He said: "The Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights to all its citizens, including its minority communities. It is widely acknowledged that 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."

Rejecting the claims by the report, he said: "We see no locus standi for a foreign entity/government to pronounce on the state of our citizens’ constitutionally protected rights."

The "Report on International Religious Freedom 2018", available on the website of the US State Department, had claimed that the "authorities often failed to prosecute perpetrators of 'cow vigilante' attacks, which included killings, mob violence, and intimidation."

Earlier on Saturday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also rejected the report.

"The basic presumption in this report that there is some grand design behind anti-minority violence is simply false. On the contrary, in most of such cases, these instances are carried out as a result of local disputes and by (people with) criminal mindset," BJP media chief and parliamentarian Anil Baluni said in a statement to media.