In a questionable move, the Indian government denied a delegation of a US-based religious commission visas for the second time. The delegation was scheduled to visit India to discuss and report on the conditions of religious freedom in the country.
The delegation of US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) wanted to visit the country for a week to meet with the government officials, religious leaders and activists.
“We are deeply disappointed by the Indian government’s denial, in effect, of these visas,” said Robert P George, chairman of USCIRF, in a statement.
“As a pluralistic, non-sectarian, and democratic state, and a close partner of the United States, India should have the confidence to allow our visit,” he said.
The members, who prepare an annual report on religious freedom in countries across the globe, were earlier denied visas by the UPA government.
George added that USCIRF had traveled without much problem even to countries with the worst records of religious freedom, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, China and Burma.
The USCIRF delegation was scheduled for departure from the US on Friday with the support of the state department and the US embassy in New Delhi.
USCIRF’s principal responsibilities include making policy recommendations to the president, secretary of state and Congress, and reviewing—through the lens of international human rights law—the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally.
USCIRF is an independent US federal government commission with commissioners appointed by the president and the leaders in both houses of Congress.
“USCIRF will continue to pursue a visit to India, given the ongoing reports from religious communities, civil society groups, and NGOs that the conditions for religious freedom in India have been deteriorating since 2014,” George said according to The Times of India.
