A U.S. panel on religious freedom has raised concerns over the worsening treatment of minorities in India and has recommended sanctions against India’s external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), over its alleged involvement in assassination plots targeting Sikh separatists.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) also highlighted increased restrictions on religious activities in Vietnam, recommending that the communist-ruled nation be designated a “country of particular concern.”
Rising Concerns Over Religious Freedom in India
The commission’s annual report, released on Tuesday, stated that “religious freedom conditions in India continued to deteriorate in 2024, as attacks and discrimination against religious minorities continued to rise.”
It specifically criticized Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly spreading “hateful rhetoric and disinformation against Muslims and other religious minorities” during the 2023 election campaign.
The Indian government dismissed the report on Wednesday, calling it part of a pattern of “biased and politically motivated assessments.” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “The USCIRF’s persistent attempts to misrepresent isolated incidents and cast aspersions on India’s vibrant multicultural society reflect a deliberate agenda rather than a genuine concern for religious freedom.”
Washington has been seeking closer ties with both India and Vietnam due to shared concerns over China’s growing influence in Asia. Analysts suggest that this strategic partnership has led the U.S. to overlook human rights issues in both countries.
U.S.-India Tensions Over Sikh Separatist Allegations
Since 2023, U.S.-India relations have been strained by allegations that India has targeted Sikh separatists abroad. The issue gained international attention when the U.S. charged former Indian intelligence officer Vikash Yadav in connection with a foiled plot against a Sikh activist. India considers Sikh separatists as security threats and has denied any involvement in such operations.
Modi, who has been in power since 2014, denies allegations of religious discrimination, insisting that his government’s initiatives, such as electrification and subsidy schemes, benefit all communities.
However, rights groups have pointed to a rise in hate speech, the implementation of anti-conversion laws, and the revocation of Kashmir’s special status as examples of policies that disproportionately affect minorities. The U.N. has described India’s citizenship law as “fundamentally discriminatory.”
USCIRF Recommends Sanctions, But Implementation Unlikely
The USCIRF has urged the U.S. government to classify India as a “country of particular concern” due to religious freedom violations and to impose targeted sanctions against Yadav and RAW.
Despite these recommendations, it is unlikely that the U.S. will sanction RAW, as the panel’s suggestions are not binding. The commission is an independent, bipartisan advisory body that monitors religious freedom and provides policy recommendations to the U.S. government.
Religious Restrictions in Vietnam Also Criticized
The USCIRF report also criticized Vietnam’s new decree, issued earlier this month, which grants authorities increased power to demand financial records from religious organizations and suspend religious activities for vaguely defined “serious violations.”
As of December, the commission’s Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List included over 80 individuals imprisoned in Vietnam for practicing their faith or advocating for religious freedom.
The Vietnamese embassy has not yet responded to the report.
Strategic Interests vs. Human Rights Concerns
While the USCIRF continues to call for stronger actions against India and Vietnam over religious freedom concerns, U.S. foreign policy has largely prioritized strategic partnerships with both countries. Given Washington’s focus on countering China’s influence in the region, analysts believe that human rights concerns may continue to take a backseat to geopolitical interests.