New Delhi, March 22: The United States recently released a report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) that has drawn sharp criticism from a group of 275 former judges, bureaucrats, diplomats, and military veterans. Veena Sikri, former High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, has expressed her views on this matter.
Sikri stated, “I believe the USCIRF’s report on religious freedom is completely baseless and one-sided. The Indian government has issued a very strong statement against it, as there is no logic in the report. You cannot just criticize institutions; you cannot malign organizations like R&AW or RSS, which, although classified as NGOs, are logical entities doing significant social work. In fact, during the COVID pandemic, it was the RSS and gurdwaras that provided assistance to people in dire situations, helping those who were traveling long distances by providing food and resources.”
She further commented, “This institution, USCIRF, looks at the rest of the world but fails to see what is happening in America. They cannot be trusted at all. We know that India has a strong judiciary that examines every aspect of the situation of minorities. We have a robust executive and a strong legislature. Moreover, we are aware that all social welfare programs implemented by the Indian government, whether it is the Ujjwala scheme or the Jan Dhan Yojana, prioritize minorities. They are the ones who receive the first preference in every village and district. Not a single complaint has been reported regarding bias in the implementation of any government program or welfare scheme aimed at benefiting people.”
Sikri added that if there is a system where someone has complained or made a statement, and a leader is making a wrong statement, trying to use that as evidence is entirely fake. When discussing issues like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the judiciary is there to provide its opinion. They are meant to protect the interests of citizens and all branches of the government. She believes that such biased reports should simply be ignored. The more they are ignored, the better it will be.
She cautioned that discussing the report further gives it undue importance. Observing the response from the minority community, no one has claimed that the report is valid because it is not. It is entirely selective and based on preconceived notions. They are raising issues without any logic. Regarding the RSS, she recalled its chief Mohan Bhagwat, who stated that Hindutva is inclusive of minorities. The focus is on ensuring that minorities are part of what can be termed the Indian ethos and civilization. Every minority that has come to India has become a part of its life, whether they are Jews, Parsis, or Muslims.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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