India rejects US report on religious freedom; calls USCIRF 'an entity of concern'

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs has rejected the report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) that religious freedom in India is declining. The anti-India remarks in the annual report on international religious freedom for 2025 are worrying, said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

“India is home to 1.4 billion people who are adherents to all religions known to mankind. However, we have no expectation that the USCIRF will engage with the reality of India’s pluralistic framework or acknowledge the harmonious coexistence of its diverse communities. Such attempts to undermine India's existence as a beacon of democracy and tolerance will not succeed. In fact, it is the USCIRF that should be designated as an entity of concern," Randhir Jaiswal said.

What is said in the report:

The situation for religious freedom in India is deteriorating significantly. Religious minorities face widespread persecution and violence at the national level and in various states. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, implemented by the BJP-led government, grants citizenship only to non-Muslim immigrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The government-planned nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC) could expose millions of Muslims to detention, deportation and other forms of discrimination.

USCIRF

An independent, bipartisan federal government agency established by the US Congress to monitor, analyze and report on religious freedom abroad. It makes recommendations to the US President, Secretary of State and Congress to prevent religious persecution and promote religious freedom.