Religious freedom in India was on a "negative trajectory" in 2015 as religious tolerance "deteriorated" and religious freedom violations "increased", alleged US Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in its 2016 annual report.


The USCIRF suggested that the Indian government publicly rebuke officials and religious leaders that make derogatory statements about religious communities.


Pointing out that it will continue to monitor the situation closely during 2016 to understand if India should be recommended to the State Department for designation as a "country of particular concern," USCIRF advised the US government to integrate concern for religious freedom into bilateral contacts with India, including the framework of future Strategic Dialogues.


USCIRF reports are not binding on the State Department. Interestingly the report comes a little more than a month before PM Narendra Modi's bilateral visit to Washington where he is also scheduled to address joint session of the US Congress. Read more