'Biased': MEA slams US report on religious freedom in India

India on Thursday rejected the findings of a report released by a US government commission - the Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) - on religious freedom, saying it was a "biased organisation with a political agenda". India also said it had no expectations from the US government commission to understand India's diverse, pluralistic and democratic ethos.

New Delhi's response came after the USCIRF released its 2024 annual report and recommended designating 17 countries, including India, as Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs), for "engaging in or tolerating particularly severe violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief".

In a strong-worded response, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the USCIRF continued to "publish anti-India propaganda", masquerading as part of its annual report.