US report highlights violence against Indian minorities

The US State Department's 2023 religious freedom report on India noted violent attacks on minority groups, particularly Muslims and Christians, including incidents of killings, assaults, and vandalism of houses of worship.

The report, released on Wednesday, stated that in 2023, senior US officials continued to "raise concerns about religious freedom issues" with their Indian counterparts.

Human rights experts say India has seen a rise in attacks on minorities under prime minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"In India, we see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities," said US secretary of state Antony Blinken when the report was released.

Criticism of India by the US is usually restrained due to close economic ties and New Delhi's importance for Washington to counter China, according to political analysts.

The US report listed numerous incidents. One example was the fatal shooting of a security official and three Muslims on a train near Mumbai by a suspect who was a railway security official. An investigation by Indian authorities is ongoing, and the suspect is in jail, as reported by The Indian Express newspaper.

The report also cited attacks against Muslims based on allegations of their involvement in cow slaughter or beef trading.

The Indian embassy in Washington had no immediate comment. The Indian government denies discriminating against minorities, stating that its welfare policies aim to benefit all Indians.

Rights advocates contest this, pointing to anti-Muslim hate speeches, the revoking of Muslim-majority Kashmir's special status, a citizenship law that the UN calls "fundamentally discriminatory," and the demolition of Muslim properties under the guise of removing illegal construction.

The State Department report also mentioned violence in the northeastern state of Manipur that started in May last year between minority, mostly Christian, Kuki and majority, mostly Hindu, Meitei ethnic groups.

Hindu and Christian places of worship were destroyed in Manipur. According to a local tribal leaders' forum, over 250 churches were burnt down, more than 200 people were killed, and over 60,000 were displaced.

Hindus make up about 80 per cent of India's 1.4 billion population. Muslims comprise 14 per cent and Christians over 2 per cent.

The report also highlighted anti-conversion legislation in some Indian states that rights advocates say challenges the right to freedom of belief.

(Reuters)