India Rejects USCIRF Remarks on Religious Freedom, Vinay Kwatra Hits Back

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has triggered a controversy by claiming that religious freedom conditions in India are deteriorating. The commission alleged that people in India were being arrested on religious grounds and shared a photograph of Sharjeel Imam, who was arrested in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots case. It claimed that he had been detained for years for advocating religious freedom. India's Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, strongly rejected the commission's remarks.

Responding to the allegations, Kwatra urged USCIRF to examine its own country's discriminatory practices before lecturing others. He said the commission had no authority to pass judgments on the constitutional rights of Indian citizens. He also asserted that its biased approach and assessments based on misinformation could not undermine India's commitment to religious freedom and constitutional values. Criticising the commission for relying on selective information and questionable ideological narratives rather than facts, Kwatra reiterated India's objections to its approach. India has repeatedly accused USCIRF of displaying bias in its assessments of religious freedom in the country.