America
India slams US panel for comments on religious minorities
New Delhi, June 4
India on Thursday slammed
the US' Tom Lantos Human Rights Committee and said its raising the issue
of alleged "violence" against religious minorities in the country was
based on "lack of understanding of India".
External affairs
ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup, in a statement said the government
had seen media reports about a briefing by the committee on "Violence
against Religious Minorities in India". "We regard such efforts as based
on lack of understanding of India, its constitution and society," he
said.
"It is well known that the constitution of India guarantees
equal religious, social and political rights to all its citizens,
including minorities," he said.
At a Congressional hearing
organised jointly by the commission and the American Sikh Congressional
Caucus, literature containing testimonies of experts and details of
speeches distributed to members spoke of violence against religious
minorities, with a map of India which showed Pakistani Kashmir as part
of Pakistan.
At the hearing, Congressman Patrick Meehan, co-chair
of the American Sikh Congressional Caucus, alleged that "violence"
against religious minorities has increased in India in recent months,
calling it an issue of serious concern.
Meehan and the invited
experts praised President Barack Obama for raising the issue of
religious and human rights in India during his trip to the country early
this year.