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US panel links lifting sanctions to status of minorities

Taking up cudgels on behalf of Christians and Muslims in India, a US Commission has linked the lifting of the remaining economic sanctions against New Delhi to improvement in the condition of minorities.

Indo-US economic trade ties should be linked to greater religious freedom for minorities and removal of any restrictions on conversion, US Commission on International Religious Freedom said in its report released on Monday.

"Should the US government continue to waive economic sanctions against India and promote greater trade and investment, the implementation of our economic policies should take into account progress of Indian government on protecting religious freedom, ensuring safety of religious minorities, and promoting the rule of law," the commission, set up to make recommendations to US Congress and the government, said.

Claiming that there had been "disturbing increase in the past several years in severe violence against religious minorities" in India, the report linked it with increase in political influence at the national and state level of 'Hindu nationalists' identifying them with the RSS, the ruling BJP and associated organisations.

"Although the BJP-led government may not be directly responsible for instigating violence against religious minorities, there is concern that the government is not doing all that it could to pursue the perpetrators of the attacks and counteract the prevailing climate of hostility, in some quarters of India, against these minority groups."

Ayodhya remains a live issue with persistent calls from the RSS to build a temple there, the commission said, adding that friction over other holy sites has intensified in recent years.

It claimed that mosques had been vandalised and violence against Christians had increased dramatically.

Since the murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his sons in Orissa, attacks on Christians have continued with reports of renewed attacks on churches, priests and ministers, particularly in Gujarat, the report claimed.

"A prominent example of the government's failure to adequately act against those associated with communal violence was the controversial decision of a Shiv-Sena government magistrate in Maharashtra to dismiss charges against Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray for his role inciting violence against Muslims in the riots following destruction of Babri mosque," it said.

The commission also recommended that the US government "allocate funds from its foreign assistance programmes for promotion of education on religious toleration and inclusiveness in India."

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