US is trying to destabilize general elections in India says Russia
The statement comes after India was chastised for alleged religious freedom breaches in the most recent annual report published by the USCIRF
The Russian foreign ministry stated that the US wants to undermine India during the general election of 2024, following a US federal panel report that condemned New Delhi for purportedly violating religious freedom. Russian state-run news outlet RT stated that Maria Zakharova, a spokesman for the foreign ministry, claimed Washington is ignorant of India’s history and national mindset and that it keeps making “unfounded accusations” regarding religious liberty in India.
It is demeaning to India as a nation and a state, according to Zakharova. “The reason [behind the US accusations] is to unbalance the internal political situation in India and complicate the general elections,” according to RT news. A spokesman for the foreign ministry continued, “Washington’s actions unquestionably amount to interference in India’s internal affairs.”
This comes after India was chastised for alleged religious freedom breaches in the most recent annual report published by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). Additionally, the commission reiterated its suggestion that India be designated as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the US Department of State.
According to the study, the BJP government is supporting “discriminatory” nationalist policies. Additionally, it has drawn attention to the ongoing application of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the laws against conversion and cowslaughter. It has claimed that the application of these rules has led to the surveillance, targeting, and arbitrary imprisonment of religious minorities and those who speak up for them.
“Both news media and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) reporting on religious minorities were subjected to strict monitoring under FCRA regulations,” according to the study.
The US commission has come under fire from the Ministry of External Affairs for trying to “interfere” in India’s election process and for carrying on with “propaganda” against the nation.
The ministry’s spokeswoman, Randhir Jaiswal, stated last week that the USCIRF is a well-known “biased” organisation with a political objective. It is well known that the US Commission on International Religious Freedom is a politically biased body. They still release their misinformation on India under the guise of an annual report.
“The US Commission on International Religious Freedom is known as a biased organisation with a political agenda. They continue to publish their propaganda on India masquerading as part of an annual report.”
“We really have no expectation that the USCIRF will even seek to understand India’s diverse, pluralistic and democratic ethos,” Mr Jaiswal said. “Their efforts to interfere in the largest electoral exercise of the world will never succeed,” he added.
Additionally, Moscow refuted reports that an Indian official was part of an aborted scheme to kill terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a member of the Khalistani movement. As far as we are aware, Washington has not yet shown any solid proof that Indian people were involved in the planning of a specific GS Pannun’s murder. “It is unacceptable to speculate on this topic in the absence of evidence,” Zakharova stated during the briefing.
The statements were made in relation to a Washington Post article that mentioned unidentified sources and linked a Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer to the purported conspiracy to murder Pannun. According to the research, India is making similar efforts to counter its adversary as Saudi Arabia and Russia.
“The Washington Post’, it seems to me, should use the term ‘repressive regime’ and everything you quoted in relation to Washington. It is difficult to imagine a more repressive regime than Washington, both in domestic and international affairs,” Zakharova said.
The Washington Post article was disputed by the External Affairs Ministry, which described it as “unwarranted and unsubstantiated” imputation on a “serious matter” that is being looked into. Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal called the report “speculative and irresponsible”.
