There is an uproar in India over the American report on religious freedom. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has accused India of religious discrimination. This is not the first time that America has made such absurd allegations against India. However, India has rejected these allegations every time, calling them discriminatory.
Violence against Indian Minorities
America has accused India of religious discrimination. In fact, the US State Department has released the Religious Freedom Report for the year 2023. This report mentions violence against Indian minorities. While releasing this report, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken specifically took the name of India. Blinken's statement against India is the first example of the US blaming the country in Modi 3.0.Without naming, Blinken has accused the Modi government and BJP of discriminating against Muslim and Christian minorities.
Blinken said this against India
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday said there has been a "worrying increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolition of homes and places of worship of members of minority religious communities" in India.Additionally, US Ambassador for International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussain accused the Indian police of being mute spectators while Christians were targeted. He said, "For example, in India, Christian communities reported that local police assisted mobs disrupting worship services over allegations of proselytizing activities, or stood by as mobs attacked them and then The victims were arrested on charges of religious conversion."
Why is America putting pressure on India?
America is trying its best to put pressure on India and bring it to its side. This is a well thought out strategy of America to put pressure on the countries which do not listen to it. Despite this, if that country is reluctant then shower sanctions on it. The biggest example of this is China.There was a time when America provided all kinds of help to China to pit it against Russia. When China became powerful, it stopped listening to America. Angered by this, America imposed many sanctions on China.
America is trying to distance India from Russia
The main objective of America is to distance India from Russia. India never openly criticised Russia in the recent Ukraine war. Apart from this, India also purchased S-400 missile system from Russia, ignoring American sanctions. Due to this, America is burning from within.Many top American officials have said that they are not comfortable with the relations between Russia and India and want to see distance in it. However, India has made it clear that it will never reduce its relations with Russia.
What benefit does America gain from controlling India?
America's effort is to control India and use it as a hub in the Indo-Pacific. China is engaged in anti-American activities in the Indo Pacific. In such a situation, America's attempt is to place the gun on India's shoulders. The whole world knows that America is not anyone's relative. America did not spare even its closest country like France and for its own benefit, canceled the submarine deal worth billions of dollars with Australia. In such a situation, America can sacrifice anyone for its own benefit.BJP criticised in American report
America's comment on UCC also
The US report said PM Modi reiterated his call for implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) instead of a system of separate personal laws. It said, "Muslim, Sikh, Christian and tribal leaders and some state government officials opposed the initiative on the grounds that it was part of a project to transform the country into a 'Hindu Rashtra' (Hindu nation)."Additionally, the US report quoting Human Rights Watch (HRW) and other international organisations has criticised BJP leaders for religious discrimination
RSS and VHP also attacked
The US report said, "Public celebrations of Hindu festivals sometimes result in communal violence, particularly when they involve processions from Muslim-majority areas." It also said that these festivals are led by the BJP and its allied groups, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).