*New Delhi:Frustrated India reacts over strong diplomatic snub from UnitedStates.*
India has said the statement made by a commission of the US government onreligious freedom after the Lok Sabha passed the Citizenship (Amendment)Bill was “regrettable”.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) had asked theUS government to “consider sanctions against the Home Ministerlinkandother principal leadership” for trying to make a law that it says “iscreating a religious test for Indian citizenship that would stripcitizenship from millions of Muslims”, NDTV has reported.
“The position articulated by USCIRF is not surprising given its pastrecord. It is, however, regrettable that the body has chosen to be guidedonly by its prejudices and biases on a matter on which it clearly haslittle knowledge…” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“The statementlinkmadeby the USCIRF on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is neither accurate norwarranted.
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The bill provides expedited consideration for Indian citizenship topersecuted religious minorities already in India from certain contiguouscountries,” the government said in the statement, a day before the bill isto be presented in the Rajya Sabha.
“Neither the CAB (Citizenship Amendment Bill) nor the National Register ofCitizens (NRC) process seeks to strip citizenship from any Indian citizenof any faith.
Suggestions to that effect are motivated and unjustified. Every nation,including the United States, has the right to enumerate and validate itscitizenry, and to exercise this prerogative through various policies,”India said.
