US religious freedom watchdog 'implores' Biden administration to designate India

The US religious freedom watchdog called on Joe Biden administration to designate India as a "country of particular concern" under the US Religious Freedom Act. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent federal government commission, said "recent efforts by the Indian government to silence activists, journalists, and lawyers abroad pose a serious threat to religious freedom."

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is an American-Canadian dual citizen who India has designated as a terrorist (AP)

"USCIRF implores the US Department of State to designate India a Country of Particular Concern due to India’s systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of freedom of religion or belief," it said in a statement as per news agency Reuters.