Amid India’s repeated denial of government-complicit, targeted persecution of minorities—particularly Muslims and Christians—flagged by several US-based human rights organisations, which it calls biased, senior officials from the UN and the US, alongside leading human rights advocates, jointly called upon the US government to designate India as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), citing grave and persistent human rights and religious freedom violations.
The appeal was made during a congressional briefing held on Capitol Hill on July 17, which witnessed participation from over 100 congressional staffers, underscoring growing international concern over India’s domestic policies, Maktoob media reported.
The Indian government has consistently denied these allegations, accusing rights groups and international experts of harbouring bias and failing to acknowledge India’s democratic structures.
However, UN representatives, including the Special Rapporteurs on Minority Issues and Human Rights Defenders, presented a series of documented instances that, they argued, demonstrate systemic discrimination and growing insecurity for religious minorities, particularly Muslims, the report claimed.
The panel of speakers pointed to a pattern of state complicity and inaction, noting that authorities in India have not only failed to protect minorities but have also created conditions that enable and embolden extremist actors.
They cited instances of hate speech during elections, the lack of accountability from the police and electoral bodies, and the government’s failure to respond to official UN communications regarding these matters.
Civil society concerns were also highlighted, with speakers drawing attention to the Indian government’s alleged misuse of legal frameworks to silence dissent. These included the arbitrary detention of activists, revocation of NGO licences under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, and application of stringent anti-terror laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, particularly in regions like Jammu and Kashmir.
Cases such as the arrests in the Bhima Koregaon investigation and the incarceration of activists and journalists were offered as examples of India’s deteriorating civil liberties environment.
International human rights organisations, including Freedom House, also presented assessments of India’s democratic decline, noting a significant drop in the country’s global freedom scores over the past decade.
Concerns were raised about the curtailing of political opposition, transnational repression targeting dissidents abroad, and the enactment of discriminatory policies that disproportionately affect religious minorities.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which has been advocating since 2020 for India’s CPC designation, reiterated its recommendation and called for targeted sanctions on individuals and entities implicated in rights violations.
The agency specifically flagged alleged transnational repression activities attributed to Indian intelligence agencies, including assassination attempts on Sikh activists.
Human rights experts urged the US Congress to take legislative action, which could include investigations into transnational repression, the insertion of human rights clauses into arms sales agreements, and diplomatic pressure on India to uphold its obligations as a UN member state.