All religions lived in peaceful co-existence in India: Religious Freedom Report

Sep 15: In the International Religious Freedom 2007 report of US, US administration noted that in India vast majority of citizens of all religions live in peaceful co-existence but at the same time admitted that still there have been references of organized societal attacks on minorities in the country.

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The report also mentioned that terrorist violence also targets certain sections. The report also talked about the atrocities against certain sections of people such as Kashmiri Pandits. Report says that terrorists attempt to provoke inter-religious conflict.

Report mentioned the constitutional provisions of freedom of religion in the constitution of India and applauded that national government respected this right to freedom of religion in practice said the state department in its annual report.

Despite constitution and government respecting the right, certain states and local governments have enacted ‘anti-conversion laws’ such as Chhattisgarh, Gujrat, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Report also reflected on the sluggish action of police and enforcement agencies on such incidents of societal attacks. Report also mentions 2002 Gujrat riots, the 1984 Sikh riots and attacks against Christians.

The motive behind the report on the status of religious freedom in the world is to bring the actions of government to light –those that follow repressing measures to curb religious expression, and persecute believers or facilitate or tolerate violence against religious and those who respect, protect and promote religious freedom.

This is to be known that promotion of religious freedom is a component part of US foreign policy. The report is also due to US commitment to the article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that everybody has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.