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Moscow
Russia has accused the United States of attempting to destabilize India during the 2024 general election. According to the Russian foreign ministry, a US federal commission’s report criticized New Delhi for alleged violations of religious freedom. The report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) renewed its recommendation to the US Department of State to declare India a “Country of Particular Concern.” It accused the ruling BJP of reinforcing “discriminatory” nationalist policies and flagged the enforcement of laws related to unlawful activities, foreign contributions, citizenship, anti-conversion, and cow slaughter.
Russia claims that the US’s actions constitute interference in India’s internal affairs and disrespect the country as a whole. The Ministry of External Affairs has criticized the USCIRF for attempting to “interfere” in India’s electoral exercise and engaging in propaganda against the country. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the ministry, said recently that the USCIRF is known to be a “biased” entity with a political agenda.
Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, stated that the US aimed to unbalance India’s political situation to complicate the parliamentary elections. “According to the information we have, Washington has not yet provided any reliable evidence of the involvement of Indian citizens in the preparation of the murder of a certain GS Pannun. Speculation on this topic in the absence of evidence is unacceptable,” Zakharova said at the briefing.
Pannun, wanted in India on terror charges, holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada. He has been designated as a terrorist by the Union Home Ministry under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
