India on US Department’s human rights report says Deeply Biased

India criticised the US State Department’s annual human rights report, labelling it as “deeply biased” and indicating a lack of understanding of the country. The report highlighted “significant” abuses in Manipur, where an ethnic conflict occurred last year, and also mentioned alleged attacks on minorities, journalists, and dissenting voices nationwide.

Ministry of External Affairs India criticised the US State Department’s annual human rights report

Addressing the media, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, stated, “We find this report deeply biased and indicative of a flawed understanding of India. We do not consider it credible and advise others to adopt the same stance.

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The report highlighted criticism from local human rights organisations, affected communities, and minority political parties directed at the Central government for its delayed response in addressing violence and providing humanitarian assistance in Manipur, which has been engulfed in ethnic clashes.

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The report, encompassing countries receiving U.S. assistance and all UN member states, evaluates human rights practices according to the standards outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international agreements.

Report discussed the income tax department’s raids on the office of the BBC

Furthermore, the report discussed the income tax department’s raids on the office of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). While the tax authorities justified the searches by citing irregularities in the media house’s tax payments and ownership structure, they also confiscated equipment from journalists not associated with the organisation’s financial operations.

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Citing a BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots, the US State Department reported that the Indian government utilised emergency powers to prohibit the screening of the documentary. Additionally, media companies were compelled to remove links to the video, and student protesters who arranged viewing parties were detained. The screening of the documentary was subsequently prohibited in India.

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