'Unfortunate vote bank politics': India sharply reacts to US's report on minority attacks

New Delhi, June 03: Reacting sharply to the US State Department report on the attack on minorities, India took a swipe at US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, for his "ill-informed comments", saying it is unfortunate to see vote bank politics being practised in international relations.

 

 

Responding to the media queries, the Ministry of External Affairs released a statement on the issue, saying that the assessment was based on "motivated inputs and biassed view." "We'd urge that assessments based on motivated inputs and biased views be avoided," read the statement issued by MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

 

"As a naturally pluralistic society, India values religious freedom and human rights. In our discussions with the US, we've regularly highlighted issues of concern there, including racially and ethnically motivated attacks, hate crimes, and gun violence," the statement added.

 

 

 

India had previously rejected the US religious freedom report, saying it saw no locus standi for a foreign government to pronounce on the state of its citizens' constitutionally protected rights.

 

In its annual report to Congress on international religious freedom, the US State Department alleged that India saw attacks on members of the minority communities, including killings, assaults, and intimidation, occurring throughout the year 2021.

 

 

 

Released by the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, Thursday's report gave its perspective on the status and violations of religious freedom across the globe and had separate chapters on each of the countries.

 

While speaking about India, Blinken said there have been rising attacks on people and places of worship in India. He said, "For example, in India, the world’s largest democracy and home to a great diversity of faiths, we have seen rising attacks on people and places of worship."

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