The Russian foreign ministry has alleged that the United States is seeking to destabilise India during the 2024 general election, following criticism from a US federal commission regarding religious freedom violations in India.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry, has stated that Washington’s criticisms demonstrate a lack of understanding of India’s national mentality and history. Maria Zakharova emphasized that the US’s unfounded accusations about religious freedoms in India disrespect the country as a whole and aim to disrupt its internal political situation and complicate the general elections.
The remarks from Russia come in response to the latest annual report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which condemned India for alleged violations of religious freedom and recommended the US Department of State to declare India a “Country of Particular Concern.”
The report highlighted concerns over the enforcement of laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, Citizenship (Amendment) Act, and anti-conversion and cow-slaughter laws, alleging arbitrary detention and targeting of religious minorities.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has slammed the USCIRF for its biased stance and political agenda, rejecting its attempts to interfere in India’s electoral process and continuing propaganda against the country. The ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, dismissed The Washington Post’s report alleging Indian involvement in a plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as unwarranted and unsubstantiated.
Randhir Jaiswal criticized the report as speculative and irresponsible, emphasizing that India’s diverse, pluralistic, and democratic ethos cannot be understood by biased entities like USCIRF. The ministry has also rejected allegations of Indian involvement in the alleged assassination plot, demanding reliable evidence from Washington to support its claims.
