Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Jains generally are fearful of what the future portends.
traditions and its religious minorities. Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Jains generally are fearful of what the future portends. Moreover, Hindus classified as Schedule Castes or Tribes, commonly referred to as Dalits, also are increasingly being attacked and harassed," the report said.
The report alleges that the Indian government at both the national and state levels often ignores its constitutional commitments to protect the rights of religious minorities.
"National and state laws are used to violate the religious freedom of minority communities; however, very little is known about the laws," it said.
The report said that violence against religious minorities, discrimination, forced conversions, and environments with increased instances of harassment and intimidation of religious minorities are not new phenomena in India, as they have occurred under both the Congress Party and BJP governments.
It recommends the US to urge the Indian government to push states that have adopted anti-conversion laws to repeal or amend them to conform to international norms.
The US is also recommended to urge India to immediately lift its sanctions against nongovernmental organisations working for the welfare of the minorities in India.
"Identify Hindutva groups that raise funds from US citizens and support hate campaigns in India. Such groups should be banned from operating in the US if they are found to spread hatred against religious minorities in India," is another set of recommendation for the US Government.
The report urges India to reform the anti-conversion laws and appreciate that both conversion and reconversion by use of force, fraud, or allurement are equally bad and infringe upon a person s freedom of conscience and implement the recommendations of the Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities (2007).
It urges India not to impose Hindu personal status laws on Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain communities, but instead provide them with a provision of personal status laws as per their distinct religious beliefs and practices.
"Operationalise the term 'minority' in its federal laws and comply with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities," the report recommends.
"Drop Explanation II in Article 25 of its constitution and recognise Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism as distinct religions with their own separate religious identities. The government of India also should adopt the recommendations of the Venkatachaliah Commission (2000 2002)," it said.
(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
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