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BIG STORY MAY 10, 2024 | The Indian Eye 4

INDIA-US RELATIONS

BITTER EXCHANGES

The Washington Post reveals the name of Indian intelligence officer allegedly behind the

Pannun murder plot. USCIRF condemns Indian government for its “discriminatory nationalist

policies”. What is gone wrong between the two biggest democracies?

OUR BUREAU ric, and failed to address communal
violence disproportionately affecting
Washington, DC/New Delhi
Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits,
uddenly, in the middle of the Jews, and Adivasis (indigenous peo-
most important election in Indi- ples). Continued enforcement of
San history, the relations between the Unlawful Activities Prevention
the world’s biggest democracy and its Act (UAPA), Foreign Contribution
crucial strategic partner, the US, are Regulation Act (FCRA), Citizen-
not looking good. Not a week pass- ship Amendment Act (CAA), and
es without a war of words between anti-conversion and cow slaughter
Washington DC and New Delhi, even laws resulted in the arbitrary deten-
as both sides emphasize that all is well tion, monitoring, and targeting of re-
between the two important partners. ligious minorities and those advocat-
In the latest episode of discord ing on their behalf,” the report said.
between the countries, India on Meanwhile, in another growing
Thursday rejected the report of the and thorny issue, External Affairs
US Commission on Internation- Ministry rejected a report in The
al Religious Freedom that accused Washington Post naming Indian Re-
the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party search and Analysis Wing (RAW)
(BJP) of “reinforcing discriminato- official’s involvement in the alleged
ry nationalist policies” and said the post to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pan-
organization is completely ‘biased’ nun in the US. Describing it as an
and it doesn’t even expect from the “unwarranted and unsubstantiated”
organization to understand country’s imputation on a “serious matter”
diverse, pluralistic and democratic that is under investigation, Ministry
ethos. of External Affairs (MEA) official
“The US Commission on Inter- spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on
national Religious Freedom (US- Monday said the US media report
CIRF) is known as a biased organi- was “speculative and irresponsible”.
zation with a political agenda. They In response to media queries on
continue to publish their propaganda the report that appeared in Washing-
on India masquerading as part of an ton Post, a US national daily, Jaiswal
annual report,” Ministry of External said that a High-Level Committee
Affairs official spokesperson Rand- set up by the Indian government is
hir Jaiswal said at a press briefing on carrying out an investigation into the
Thursday. security concerns shared by the US
The United States Commission government on networks of orga-
on International Religious Freedom Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Joe Biden during the G-20 Summit in New nized criminals, terrorists, and oth-
is a U.S. federal government com- Delhi in September 2023 (ANI) ers.
mission created by the International “The report in question makes
Religious Freedom Act of 1998. US- ernment failed to address communal to interfere in the largest electoral unwarranted and unsubstantiated
CIRF Commissioners are appointed violence disproportionately affecting exercise of the world will never suc- imputations on a serious matter.
by the President and the leadership Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, ceed,” Jaiswal said in his response. There is an ongoing investigation of
of both political parties in the Senate Jews, and Adivasis (indigenous peo- “In 2023, religious freedom the High-Level Committee set up
and the House of Representatives. ples). conditions in India continued to de- by the Government of India to look
Earlier on Wednesday, the US “We really have no expectation teriorate. The government, led by into the security concerns shared by
Commission on International Re- that USCIRF will even seek to un- the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the US government on networks of
ligious Freedom (USCIRF) which derstand India’s diverse, pluralistic reinforced discriminatory nationalist organized criminals, terrorists and
alleged that last year, Indian gov- and democratic ethos. Their efforts policies, perpetuated hateful rheto- Continued on next page... >>

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