India on US religious freedom report: No locus standi

New Delhi, Jun 23 India Sunday dismissed a US religious freedom report, saying it sees no locus standi for a foreign government to articulate on the condition of its citizens' constitutionally protected rights.

In its yearly 2018 International Religious Freedom Report, the State Department affirmed Friday that mob assaults by violent extremist Hindu groups against minority communities, particularly Muslims, proceeded in India in 2018, amid rumours that victims had traded or killed cows for beef.

Reacting to media inquiries on the report, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar stated: "India is glad for its secular credentials, its status as the biggest democracy and pluralistic society with a longstanding promise to resistance and inclusion."

The Indian Constitution ensures major rights to every one of its natives, including its minority networks, he said.

It is widely acknowledged that India is a vibrant democracy where the Constitution gives insurance of religious freedom, and where democratic governance and rule of law further promote and protect fundamental rights, Kumar asserted.

"We see no locus standi for a foreign entity/government to pronounce on the state of our citizens' constitutionally protected rights," he said.

Mandated by the Congress, the State Department in its voluminous report gives its evaluation of the status of religious opportunity in practically every one of the nations and territories of the world.

Releasing the report at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo a week ago said the report was like a report card which tracks nations to perceive how well they have regarded this fundamental human right.