The previous 1 part of the article can be accessed here Part 1. This is the second part
The highly politicized, biased USCIRF wrongly accuses Bharat
The 2023 USCIRF India-specific report cites the lack of religious freedom based on limited research and select allegations[1]. Earlier, we touched on the biased USCIRF Commissioners and professional staff and questioned the existence of USCIRF itself[2]. We proclaimed Bharat as a “County of Profound Confidence” and not of “Particular Concern.” The annual report cites that religiously discriminatory policies negatively impact Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, and Adivasis (indigenous peoples and scheduled tribes)[3].
Who should you believe? A report by the reputed and independent Pew Research Foundation states, “ Indians feel they have religious freedom, see respecting all religions as a core value.” The numbers below speak loud and clear about religious freedom in Bharat with a multi-religious population of 1.4 billion. Since the Pew report in 2021 and USCIRF reports since 2020 based on selective data, things in Bharat have gotten better. Yet, the highly politicized and biased USCIRF wrongfully accuses Bharat of religious discrimination.
Here, we analyze a press release citing two Commissioners, both Christians[4]. One of them, David Curry, is the President and CEO of Global Christian Relief. He offers advocacy on behalf of the persecuted people of the Christian faith. Did he find any significant examples of persecuted Christians and atrocities against them in India? The Christians in India, by and large, are influential people but sadly use it in converting impoverished Hindus to Christianity.
What prompted Curry to say, “Within its own borders, Indian authorities have repeatedly used draconian legislation like the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and anti-conversion laws to systematically crackdown on religious minorities, journalists, and activists?” The UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) is similar to the U.S. legislation against counter-terrorism[5]. Did Curry forget the new Homeland Security created after the 9/11 attack by the Jihadists/ terrorists belonging to the Muslim religion? Does he not remember the Patriot Act[6]? Such laws/ legislation are critical for any law-abiding, democratic, and secular country like Bharat to protect its citizens and assets against terrorism, violence, communal disharmony, and anti-national activities.
Curry is free to “urge the U.S. government to continue its active engagement with senior Indian officials and international partners…” But nobody has the right to insinuate Bharat and question its laws and legislation. Is Curry justifying his authority as a Commissioner but who cares?
Another commissioner is Stephen Schneck. Who is he and what does he know about the deep-rooted Sikhism in Bharat and its strong relations with Hinduism? He is quoted to be a “well-known advocate for Catholic social justice teachings in public life,” advocating for environmental justice, and working to end the death penalty and advance restorative justice. He is no scholar on Sikhism and/ or Hinduism.
Schneck knows nothing about the sacrifices made by Sikhs alongside Hindus in the freedom struggle and their strong camaraderie. Bharat just celebrated the 26th of December as ‘Veer Bal Diwas, ‘honoring the martyrdom of two young sons of Sikh Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh.
A handful of Sikhs seeking a separate Khalistan are living in North America and conducting terrorist-like acts to destabilize Bharat. Yet, Schneck had the audacity to state, “The Indian government’s alleged involvement in the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada and the plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States are deeply troubling.” Both Nijjar and Pannun, belong to the small group of Sikhs demanding Khalistan with support from Pakistan. Reportedly, select areas in Canada and the U.S. are also becoming a breeding ground for Sikhs seeking Khalistan.
We must question Schneck’s knowledge about these sensitive allegations. It is true that an indictment is filed against an Indian citizen in Pannun’s case but an indictment is merely an allegation[7]. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. How justifiable it is to cite merely an allegation as a basis for the whole country of India being labelled as CPC? How does Commissioner Schenek know the name of the ‘unnamed’ victim, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun?
The formal accusation alleges that an ‘unnamed’ officer of the Government of India may have been involved. Does Schenek not know about the CIA’s clandestine and secret plots globally? Most countries engage in clandestine operations for geopolitical reasons with the CIA and Russia’s KGB topping the list. I have no hesitation in saying ‘kudos to Bharat’ for CIA-type capabilities if they were involved in the alleged operations. In 2023, Bharat deserves to have the capability to selectively target anyone threatening her stability and sovereignty, and harming envoys, citizens, and installations. The recent vandalization of a Hindu temple in California with graffiti is under investigation as a possible hate crime. Should the U.S. not categorize it as an act of religious discrimination here? Canada had 4 Hindu temples vandalized in 2023.
Important to note that Bharat’s Foreign Ministry has taken the allegations seriously and a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted to look into the matter[8]. Recently, Bharat secured consular access to the accused in the formal accusation being held in the Czech Republic.
Schenek also accused Bharat of the killing of Nijjar of Canada. To the best of my knowledge, Canada has not yet provided evidence. Shame on the former academician Schenek to use the half-baked truth and cite an ‘allegation’ as, “ a severe escalation of India’s efforts to silence religious minorities and human rights defenders both within its country and abroad.” How does one killing in Canada, still under investigation, and one alleged attempt on Pannun’s life become “severe escalation… to silence religious minorities…?
Both Commissioners above are the face of the 2023 USCIRF who are no different than my earlier characterization as the “Concerned but Prejudiced Commissioners (the CPC)[9].”
The next article (Part 3) will discuss other allegations by USCIRF. These include the status of Dalits and Adivasis in contemporary Bharat and the lawful demolition of illegal property. Part 4 will focus on the Foreign Contribution Regulations Act (FCRA) which led to the cancellation of permission to receive foreign funds by certain NGOs.
To be continued…
Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
Reference:
[1] INDIA: USCIRF–RECOMMENDED FOR COUNTRIES OF PARTICULAR CONCERN (CPC) – USCIRF
[2] 2023 USCIRF Report and Bharat (A country of profound confidence) Part 1: A highly biased USCIRF – Dec 26, 2023, PGurus.com
[3] UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM – USCIRF
[4] USCIRF Deeply Concerned by India’s Transnational Repression Against Religious Minorities – Dec 15, 2023, USCIRF
[5] Counterterrorism Laws & Regulations – DHS
[6] The USA PATRIOT Act: Preserving Life and Liberty – DOJ
[7] UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK – SEALED SUPERSEDING INDICTMENT – DOJ
[8] Pannun assassination plot: What is consular access that India got to Nikhil Gupta? – Dec 22, 2023, First Post
[9] USCIRF report by “the concerned but prejudiced commissioners (the-CPC)” labeling India “a country of concern (a-CPC)” – Apr 30, 2021, OpIndia
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Formerly, a researcher in Italy, Japan, and France, he has widely travelled and came to the US in 1978. He was a faculty and academic administrator in several different universities in PA, TX, NJ, MN, WI, and NY, and an Executive Fellow in the White House S&T Policy during the Clinton administration.
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