USCIRF says India’s political system enabling discrimination against minorities
Links BJP–RSS ties to ‘discriminatory laws’
New Delhi: The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released a new update on India, stating that the country’s political structure and the close relationship between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are contributing to discriminatory laws and restrictions on religious freedom.
The bipartisan body, which reports to the US Congress, said in its India-specific issue update that both national and state-level laws have created “severe restrictions on religious freedom across the country”. It added that constitutional protections exist, but India’s political environment “facilitates a climate of discrimination toward religious minority communities”.
The Indian government has not responded to the latest update. Earlier this year, when USCIRF released its 2025 annual report in March, the Ministry of External Affairs dismissed the findings as “biased and politically motivated”.
In its latest analysis, the Commission says that the “interconnected relationship” between the ruling BJP and the RSS — which it describes as a Hindu nationalist organisation — has enabled the creation and enforcement of laws such as the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, anti-conversion legislation, and cow-protection measures that disproportionately affect Muslims and Christians.
According to the update, the BJP has, since 2014, “enforced sectarian policies seeking to establish India as an overtly Hindu state, in contrast with the secular principles of the Constitution.” It says this enforcement has restricted the ability of minority communities to practise their religion freely, in violation of Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which India is a signatory.
USCIRF says the RSS’s stated mission of creating a “Hindu Rashtra” excludes multiple minority groups. It also notes that while the RSS does not contest elections, it provides key organisational support to BJP candidates, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was an RSS volunteer before becoming Gujarat chief minister. The update repeats long-standing allegations that Modi faced accusations of inaction during the 2002 Gujarat riots.
The report comes days after a US media investigation revealed that the RSS allegedly hired the lobbying firm Squire Patton Boggs (SPB) to promote its interests in Washington DC, reportedly paying $330,000 over the first three quarters of 2025.
USCIRF’s update highlights several laws it says restrict religious freedom. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which excludes Muslims from its list of protected communities; Article 295A of the Penal Code, which functions like a blasphemy provision; and state-level anti-conversion and cow-slaughter laws. The Commission said hundreds of Christians and Muslims have been arrested under these laws and noted that 70% of India’s prison population consists of pre-trial detainees, with minorities disproportionately represented.
It also cited the case of activist Umar Khalid, jailed since 2020 over protests against the CAA, as an example of prolonged detention without trial.
The report says India’s federal structure, which places policing under state jurisdiction, limits accountability for human rights violations. It claims law enforcement frequently fails to act on mob violence targeting minorities.
In its 2025 annual report, USCIRF, for the sixth year, recommended that the US State Department designate India a “Country of Particular Concern” for what it called systematic and egregious violations of religious freedom. Washington has so far not acted on this recommendation.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Russian military hardware, spare parts for Indian military to be manufactured in India
New Delhi (PTI): Russia agreed to encourage joint manufacturing in India of military hardware and spare parts for maintenance of Russian-origin arms and defence equipment.
Ways to bolster overall bilateral defence cooperation figured prominently during summit talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.
It has been a long-standing grievance of armed forces that the supply of critical spares and equipment from Russia takes a long time, affecting the maintenance of military systems procured from that country.
"Both sides agreed to encourage joint manufacturing in India of spare parts, components, aggregates and other products for maintenance of Russian origin arms and defence equipment under Make-in-India programme through transfer of technology," a joint statement said.
ALSO READ: India, Russia explore cooperation on small modular reactors, floating nuclear power plants
It said both sides also agreed to set up joint ventures for meeting the needs of the Indian armed forces as well as subsequent export to mutually friendly third countries.
The joint statement said the India-Russia defence partnership is being reoriented to take up joint co-development and co-production of advanced defence technology and systems.
In their meeting on Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov resolved to expand bilateral defence cooperation.
In the meeting, the Indian side showed keen interest in procurement of additional batches of S-400 missile systems from Moscow to bolster its combat prowess.
In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, notwithstanding a warning by the US that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions under the provisions of Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Three squadrons have already been delivered.
The S-400 systems played a crucial role during Operation Sindoor. India may also look at procuring the S-500 missile systems from Russia.
In the Modi-Putin talks, the two sides also agreed to continue jointly developing systems of bilateral trade settlements through the use of national currencies.
Additionally, the two sides agreed to continue their consultations on enabling the interoperability of the national payment systems, financial messaging systems, as well as central bank digital currency platforms.
Modi and Putin appreciated the ongoing intensification of the joint work on a free trade agreement on goods between India and the Eurasian Economic Union, covering sectors of mutual interest, the joint statement said.
They also directed both sides to intensify efforts in negotiations on a mutually beneficial agreement on the promotion and protection of investment, it said.
India and Russia also welcomed steps to ensure long-term supply of fertilisers to India and discussed the potential establishment of joint ventures in this area.
