NEW DELHI– The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday dismissed the latest U.S. human rights report, calling it “a mix of imputations, misrepresentations, and one-sided projections” that reflect a poor understanding of India’s democratic system, pluralistic society, and strong institutional mechanisms for safeguarding human rights.
“As we have always maintained, these reports are a mix of imputations, misrepresentations, and one-sided projections that demonstrate a poor understanding of India’s democratic framework, pluralistic society, and robust institutional mechanisms for protecting human rights. We do not attach any credence to such biased assessments. We remain focused on advancing the human rights of our people through inclusive governance and development,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly media briefing.
The comments came in response to the U.S. State Department’s 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, which alleged that the Indian government took “minimal steps” to identify and punish officials responsible for human rights abuses.
This is not the first time India has pushed back against such reports. In March, New Delhi rejected the 2025 Annual Report of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), calling it biased and politically motivated.
“We have seen the recently released 2025 Annual Report of the USCIRF, which once again continues its pattern of issuing biased and politically motivated assessments. 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,” Jaiswal said at the time.
He added that India is home to 1.4 billion people practicing all major religions known to humanity. “We have no expectation that the USCIRF will engage with the reality of India’s pluralistic framework or acknowledge the harmonious coexistence of its diverse communities. Such efforts to undermine India’s standing as a beacon of democracy and tolerance will not succeed. In fact, it is the USCIRF that should be designated as an entity of concern,” he stated.
Last October, India also criticized USCIRF’s “Country Update” on India, reiterating that its views on the U.S. federal agency — which monitors religious freedom abroad and advises the U.S. President, Secretary of State, and Congress — are well known to Washington. (Source: IANS)
