A US congressional body has put India on a list of countries which have failed to protect its religious minorities adequately, BBC online reports Thursday.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom says India was added to the list because of a “disturbing increase” in religious violence. It mentioned the anti-Christian and anti-Muslim riots in Orissa and Gujarat in 2008 and 2002 respectively.
India has not yet commented on its inclusion on the “watch list”. Other countries on the list include Afghanistan, Somalia and Cuba. Leonard Leo, the chair of USCIRF, said that it was “extremely disappointing” that India has done “so little to protect and bring justice to its religious minorities under siege.”
Last year, Kandhamal district in Orissa witnessed weeks of anti-Christian violence after a Hindu leader was shot dead. The clashes erupted after Hindu groups blamed Christians for the killing.
And more than 1.000 people, mostly Muslims, died in the riots in Gujarat which began after 60 Hindus died in a fire on a train in 2002.
