Ahead of Modi visit, US highlights 'continued targeted' attacks on minorities in India

NT Correspondent

New Delhi: A month before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, the US State Department on Monday highlighted “continued targeted attacks” against minorities and noted that the US holocaust museum considers India as having “potential for mass killing”.

At an event in Washington, the 2022 International Religious Freedom Report, compiled by the State Department, was released by the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Sharing the details of the state of religious minorities in India, a senior state department official said that he has been saddened to see what has been highlighted in the report.

“The US Holocaust Museum continues to draw considerable attention to the human rights situation in India and lists it as one of its top countries of concern and with – with regards to potential for mass killings there,” the official said. India is ranked eighth among 162 countries for the highest risk of mass killing by the US holocaust museum’s early warning project.

In its report, the State Department also observed “dehumanizing rhetoric, including open calls for genocide against Muslims, lynching and other hatefueled violence,” the official said. The report lists attacks on places of worship and home demolitions, and in some cases, impunity and even clemency for those who have engaged in attacks on religious minorities.

“What we outline in today’s report is a targeted – continued targeted attacks against religious communities, including Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindu Dalits, and indigenous communities; dehumanizing rhetoric, including open calls for genocide against Muslims; lynching and other hate-fueled violence, attacks on houses of worship and home demolitions, and in some cases impunity and even clemency for those who’ve engaged in attacks on religious minorities – we’re also continuing to see, at the state level, some restrictions on religious attire,” said the unnamed senior state department official, as per the transcript uploaded on the website.

He was likely referring to the restrictions on wearing of hijab in educational institutions in Karnataka, which was legally challenged, but later upheld by the Supreme Court. The State Department official noted that there had been “significant attention” from the international community in India, including from human rights groups.