The Ministry of External Affairs today said that the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) should be designated as an entity of concern.
Dismissing the findings of the recently released 2025 Annual Report by USCIRF, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that USCIRF continues its pattern of issuing biased and politically motivated assessments. He made these remarks after USCIRF, in its report, claimed that attacks against India’s minorities rose in 2024.
Mr Jaiswal said that USCIRF’s persistent attempts to misrepresent isolated incidents and cast aspersions on India’s vibrant multicultural society reflect a deliberate agenda rather than a genuine concern for religious freedom. He further underscored that India is home to 1.4 billion people who are adherents to all religions known to mankind.
He added, however, that there is no expectation that USCIRF will engage with the reality of India’s pluralistic framework or acknowledge the harmonious coexistence of its diverse communities. Mr Jaiswal also asserted that such efforts to undermine India’s standing as a beacon of democracy and tolerance will not succeed.