On Oct 9, 2015 12:12 AM, "Veeranarayana Pandurangi" <veerankp@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> one paragraph of this USCIRF report looks interesting
>
I read the USCIRF annual report. There is not much data or statistics in the report. I found just one paragraph (on page 151) which presents statistics, but from 2013:
Quote
“According to India’s Union Home Ministry, in 2013 there were 823 incidents of communal violence nationwide, ... According to Muslim and Christian NGOs that track communal incidents, 2014 statistics, yet to be released by the Ministry, will be likely higher.”
Unquote
The NGOs’ prediction did not come true. The number of communal violence incidents in India in 2014, as released by the Government in the Parliament, was 22% lower (668) compared to 2013 (823), and was the lowest in three years. Here is the source:
This is just to show that views of the sources cited by the USCIRF report need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Similarly, the following statements in the report are accusations and/or claims which need to be corroborated rather than taken at face value:
1) “Religious minority communities frequently accuse ...”
2) “Christian communities ... report an increase of harassment and violence in the last year, ...”
3) “The Evangelical Fellowship of India has documented ...”
4) “Catholic communities in India also have documented ...”
5) “The Muslim community in India also has experienced increased harassment and violence ...”
The statement below, which is not traced to any source and not corroborated by any specific incident, is highly dubious (I do not recall any news source reporting incidents of this type ‘often’):
6) “Sikhs are often harassed and pressured to reject religious practices and beliefs that are distinct to Sikhism, such as dress, unshorn hair, and the carrying of religious items, including the kirpan.”
The statement below is also notable, though it needs to be subject to the same level of scrutiny as statements (1) to (5) above:
7) “There are reports that some evangelical groups use tactics that are unethical and insulting to Hinduism and Hindus, which exacerbate religious and communal tensions.”
The statement below being a half-truth is misleading, since Mr. Modi has been absolved by the courts of India of the longstanding allegations. A balanced statement would add that the allegations have not been proved in courts.
8) “This statement is notable given longstanding allegations that, as Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2002, Mr. Modi was complicit in anti-Muslim riots in that state.”