India denies visa to US religious commission

March 04, 2016 13:48

India has denied visa to members of a US commission on religious freedom who wanted to discuss and assess "deteriorating" religious freedom conditions in the country, the head of the independent body has said.

"We are deeply disappointed by the Indian government's denial, in effect, of these visas," Robert P George, chairman of US Commission on International Religious Freedom, said in a statement.

A three-member delegation of the USCIRF wanted to make a one-week visit starting today to meet with government officials, religious leaders and activists in India.

"As a pluralistic, non-sectarian, and democratic State, and a close partner of the United States, India should have the confidence to allow our visit," he said. "USCIRF will continue to pursue a visit to India, given the ongoing reports from religious communities, civil society groups, and NGOs that the conditions for religious freedom in India have been deteriorating since 2014," George said.

This is not the first time the USCIRF members have not been issued visas. The members, who prepare an annual report on religious freedom in countries across the globe, were denied the visas for the first time in previous UPA regime.

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