India has firmly rejected the latest report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), terming it “biased and motivated” and accusing it of presenting a selective, distorted view of the country.
The report had controversially recommended designating India as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) and even proposed sanctions against organisations such as the RSS and India’s external intelligence agency R&AW.
Responding to this, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the report “biased and motivated,” saying it presents a selective and distorted picture of India. He added that such repeated claims only weaken the credibility of the commission. India also pushed back strongly by pointing out incidents within the US, especially attacks on Hindu temples and threats faced by the Indian community.
USCIRF report and India’s response
The USCIRF’s 2026 annual report raised concerns about religious freedom in India and recommended steps like halting certain arms sales and linking India-US ties to these issues. It also called for targeted sanctions against RSS and R&AW.
India rejected these suggestions outright, saying the commission relies on questionable sources and has no authority to comment on internal matters. Officials said that instead of targeting India, the US should address problems within its own borders.
The Indian response also cited a growing wave of attacks on temples in the United States. Here’s an indicative list of temples extremists attacked in the United States, even as ‘advocacy groups’ based out of America routinely target India for what they claim ‘religious intolerance.’
Attacks on Hindu temples in the US
- In December 2023, the SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Newark, California, was defaced by Khalistan supporters. The walls of the temple were covered with anti-India graffiti and slogans supporting Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
- Another incident occurred on the night of 16th September, 2024, when the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, was vandalised by extremists. Offensive slogans targeting India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were written on the temple walls. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha strongly condemned the attack.
- In a similar case from January 2024, Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward, California, was also desecrated with pro-Khalistan graffiti. Slogans such as “Khalistan Zindabad” and other anti-India messages were spray-painted on the temple premises.
- On 3rd August and 16th August 2022, the Shri Tulsi Mandir in Queens, New York, was vandalised. On 30th October 2023, the Hari Om Radha Krishna Mandir in Sacramento was attacked.
- On 1st January 2024, the Shiv Durga Temple in Santa Clara was defaced. Four days later, on 5th January, both the Shree Ashta Lakshmi Temple in Fremont and Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward were targeted. On 11th January 2024, the Sri Panchamukha Hanuman Temple in Dublin, California, faced vandalism.
- On 25th September 2024, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento, California, was targeted.
Targeting of the Indian diaspora
Members of the Indian community have also faced attacks. In April, a 75-year-old Sikh man named Nirmal Singh was assaulted in New York while on his way to a gurdwara, suffering serious injuries.
Within days, two more Sikh men were attacked and robbed in the same area, raising concerns about safety and hate crimes targeting Indians.
By highlighting these incidents, India has tried to turn the spotlight back on the US, questioning the basis of the USCIRF report. While the commission’s recommendations are not binding, the episode has once again brought differences between the two countries into focus, especially on issues of religious freedom and internal affairs.
