Washington: The United States today said India is home to people of many faiths and will continue to encourage India to stick to its commitment to ensuring religious freedom for all. Referring to “some of the concerns” raised in the State Department’s annual report on global religious freedom, the State Department spokesperson also said that they will continue to closely monitor the status of religious freedom in all countries, including India.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Friday that governments and non-governmental forces around the world harass, threaten and jail people on the basis of their religion, and even sometimes kill them.
Responding to a question on India not being included in the list, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said India is the world’s largest democracy and home to people of many religions.
People of many religions live together here. He said he has also taken note of some of the concerns raised in the annual report on global religious freedom in the context of India. The situation of religious freedom in all countries will be closely monitored, including India. “The Biden administration will continue to encourage the Indian government to stick to its commitment to ensuring religious freedom for all,” he said.
“As the world’s two largest democracies (the US and India), we are committed to a concrete plan on religious freedom. India had earlier rejected allegations levelled by foreign governments and human rights organisations that civil liberties in the country were gradually declining.