MEA responds to Religious Freedom Report, says India proud of secular credentials
2018 International Religious Freedom Report reportedly stated that some leaders of the BJP were making inflammatory speeches against minority communities in the countryIndia is proud of its secular credentials, it's status as the largest democracy and a pluralistic society with a longstanding commitment to tolerance and inclusion: Raveesh Kumar
New Delhi: India on Sunday said it was a country with proud pluralistic credentials adding that no foreign entity or government had the right to speak about the state of the constitutionally protected rights of its citizens.
The comments from the Indian foreign ministry followed the release of the US state department's 2018 International Religious Freedom Report which reportedly stated that some leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main constituent of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) were making inflammatory speeches against minority communities in the country.
“Mob attacks by violent extremist Hindu groups against minority communities, especially Muslims, continued throughout the year amid rumors that victims had traded or killed cows for beef," PTI quoted the report that was released Saturday overnight as saying.
In response, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar in a statement said: "India is proud of its secular credentials, it's status as the largest democracy and a pluralistic society with a longstanding commitment to tolerance and inclusion."
“The Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights to all its citizens, including its minority communities. It is widely acknowledged that India is a vibrant democracy where the Constitution provides protection of religious freedom, and where democratic governance and rule of law further promote and protect the fundamental rights," he said.
“We see no locus standi for a foreign entity or government to pronounce on the state of our citizens’ constitutionally protected rights," he added.
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