New Delhi, Mar 27: Centre for Narendra Modi Studies Thursday said the annual report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) continues the same pattern of biased, politically motivated, and factually incorrect assessments that misrepresent the ground realities of India.
“The USCIRF has repeatedly attempted to paint a distorted image of India’s religious landscape by cherry-picking incidents, exaggerating narratives, and overlooking the country’s rich legacy of pluralism and coexistence. It is disappointing that an independent U.S. government body is being used to push an agenda that undermines India’s democratic institutions and societal harmony,” reads the statement.
Chairman of CNMS Professor Jasim Mohammad said India is the world’s largest democracy, home to 1.4 billion people belonging to diverse religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. “The fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution, including the freedom of religion, are actively protected by both the government and the judiciary. However, the USCIRF has chosen to ignore the legal safeguards, democratic institutions, and vibrant civil society that ensure the protection of religious minorities.”
The allegations of discriminatory laws such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and anti-conversion laws, Jasim said, are grossly misrepresented in the USCIRF report. “The CAA is a humanitarian law aimed at providing citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries; it does not strip any Indian citizen, regardless of religion, of their rights. Similarly, anti-conversion laws exist to prevent forced religious conversions and do not target any specific community. The fact that these laws are implemented through due legal process and are subject to judicial review is conveniently ignored in the report.”
The Centre for Narendra Modi Studies rejected the misleading claims made in the USCIRF report and urges the international community to recognize India’s commitment to religious harmony, constitutional democracy, and inclusive governance. “India remains a beacon of diversity and democratic values, and no amount of external propaganda will change this reality. The Indian government will continue to safeguard the rights of all its citizens and will not be deterred by politically motivated reports that seek to undermine the nation’s sovereignty and global standing.”
Prof. Jasim Mohammad said that the Centre for Narendra Modi Studies (CNMS) will soon prepare a “Fact-Finding Document” on the biased reporting of the USCIRF on India over the last ten years.
