The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has once again launched a politically motivated attack on Bharat with its latest 2025 Annual Report, repeating its pattern of biased and unfounded allegations. The report accuses Bharat of “egregious violations of religious freedom” and recommends designating it as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), a move that Bharat has strongly rejected as baseless and misleading.
USCIRF’s fabricated narrative
The report alleges that throughout 2024, minorities in Bharat faced increasing discrimination, lynchings, and state-backed suppression. It claims that religious leaders were arbitrarily arrested, places of worship were demolished, and hate speech was used to incite violence against minorities. These allegations have been firmly denied by Bharat’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which has labeled the report as “politically motivated assessments” aimed at undermining Bharat’s democratic and pluralistic society.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the findings as “distorted” and “agenda-driven,” highlighting that USCIRF has a history of presenting a prejudiced view of Bharat’s internal affairs. He called for the commission itself to be designated as an “entity of concern” for consistently misrepresenting facts.
One of the most outrageous claims in the USCIRF report is its recommendation for sanctions against Bharat’s external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), over alleged involvement in assassination attempts on Khalistani separatists abroad. Bharat has categorically rejected these allegations, pointing out that such claims are based on propaganda and an effort to malign its global standing.
The MEA criticised USCIRF for amplifying narratives that align with anti-Bharat forces, including separatist elements that seek to destabilise the country. “This report is nothing but an extension of a malicious campaign that attempts to weaken Bharat’s institutions and misrepresent the realities on the ground,” Jaiswal added.
Flawed Methodology: A report built on discredited sources
A closer examination of the USCIRF report reveals its reliance on individuals and organisations with known anti-Bharat biases. Several figures categorised as “victims” of religious persecution in Bharat are, in reality, individuals with dubious backgrounds and links to anti-national activities.
Gautam Navlakha: An ISI-linked operative posing as a ‘Hindu Victim’
One of the so-called “Hindu victims” highlighted in the report is Gautam Navlakha, a known urban Naxal with links to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). According to a charge sheet by Bharat’s National Investigation Agency (NIA), Navlakha had direct connections with ISI agent Ghulam Nabi Fai, who was convicted in the U.S. for terror funding. Navlakha even sought clemency for Fai in a U.S. court, exposing his alignment with anti-Bharat forces.
Shoma Sen: Arrested for inciting violence, not a victim
Another name featured in USCIRF’s victim list is Shoma Sen, an individual arrested for her involvement in the Bhima Koregaon violence, which was orchestrated by urban Naxals to incite caste tensions in Maharashtra. The investigation found that the event was used as a platform to instigate violence and destabilise the government. Far from being a victim, Sen was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for her links to Maoist groups.
Pinjra tod activists Devangana Kalita & Natasha Narwal: Key accused in Anti-Hindu Delhi Riots
USCIRF’s bias is further exposed with the inclusion of Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal as “Hindu victims.” Both were arrested for their active role in the 2020 Delhi riots, where radical Islamist mobs attacked Hindus, leading to 53 deaths and large-scale destruction of property.
Kalita and Narwal, members of the far-left group Pinjra Tod, were found to have incited mobs in areas like Jafrabad and Seelampur, which witnessed some of the worst violence during the riots. Pinjra Tod has been accused of instigating radical protests and playing a significant role in orchestrating the anti-CAA protests, which ultimately spiraled into full-blown riots.
Teesta Setalvad: Serial fabricator of false narratives
USCIRF’s list of supposed victims also includes Teesta Setalvad, a controversial figure known for fabricating false testimonies in cases related to the 2002 Gujarat riots. Setalvad has been accused of coaching witnesses to frame political leaders and has been arrested for forging documents to incite communal tensions. Her NGO has repeatedly been scrutinised for its questionable funding sources and its role in fueling anti-Bharat propaganda.
The MEA has made it clear that Bharat will not tolerate external entities attempting to interfere in its internal matters through biased reports and politically motivated narratives. “Bharat is home to 1.4 billion people practicing all major religions, coexisting in a pluralistic society. We do not seek validation from those who choose to ignore this reality,” Jaiswal stated.
He added that USCIRF’s efforts to paint Bharat as a violator of religious freedom are part of a larger agenda to weaken the country’s global image and serve vested interests. “Such attempts to undermine Bharat’s reputation as a stronghold of democracy and tolerance will fail. It is USCIRF itself that should be designated as an entity of concern,” he asserted.
