India has issued a sharp rebuke to a recent report by the US State Department that highlighted "significant human rights abuses" in Manipur following last year's violence in the state. The Indian government dismissed the report as one-sided and indicative of a lack of understanding of India's socio-political context.
During the Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) weekly media briefing, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticized the report, stating, "This report is deeply biased and reflects a very poor understanding of India. We attach no value to it and urge you also to do the same."
India has strongly criticized a recent report by the US State Department, which pointed to "significant human rights abuses" in Manipur following last year's violence. The Indian government rejected the findings as biased and lacking a thorough understanding of India's socio-political landscape.
The US State Department's report also noted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public condemnation of the Manipur violence as "shameful," urging swift action on the matter. Furthermore, it referenced a 60-hour search by Indian tax authorities at the BBC's Delhi and Mumbai offices on February 14. This search took place shortly after the broadcaster released a documentary on PM Modi. While authorities claimed the search was due to irregularities in the BBC's tax payments and ownership structure, the report highlighted that officials also seized equipment from journalists not involved in financial matters.
Additionally, the report mentioned the conviction and sentencing of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a case concerning defamation of the Modi surname, which led to his disqualification from the Lok Sabha. However, his conviction was later stayed by the Supreme Court, allowing Gandhi to be reinstated as a member of parliament.
Despite its criticisms, the US State Department report also recognized some positive developments in India, such as the government permitting a Shia march in Srinagar in July of the previous year to commemorate Muharram. The report noted that this procession marked the first time since 1989 that the event was officially sanctioned in Srinagar. However, the government imposed restrictions, disallowing the use of certain slogans or the display of logos related to banned organizations.
