Because of repression, an American committee indicates a significant decline in religious freedoms in India

The US Commission on Religious Freedom concluded that freedoms had declined "significantly" in India under Hindu nationalists and again recommended specific sanctions against New Delhi.

A US panel concluded Monday that religious freedoms have "significantly" declined in India under Hindu nationalists, and again recommended specific sanctions against New Delhi in response to abuses against religious minorities there.

This is the third time that the US Commission on International Religious Freedom has requested that India be placed on a list of "countries of particular concern", a recommendation that previously angered New Delhi and which the State Department is sure to reject soon.

In its annual report, the committee set up to make recommendations expressed grave concern about South Asia and supported the blacklisting of Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The panel noted "numerous" attacks against religious minorities in India in 2021, particularly Muslims and Christians, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government promotes its "ideological vision of a Hindu state" through anti-minority policies.

"Conditions of religious freedom in India have deteriorated significantly," the report said.

He referred to the "culture of impunity for threatening campaigns and mob violence" nationwide in India, in addition to the arrests of journalists and human rights defenders.

Committee Chair Anurima Bhargava stated that unlike in the past two years no member of the committee has broken the recommendation regarding India, and the Indian government in previous years has angrily rejected the panel's findings, accusing it of bias.

President Joe Biden, like his predecessor Donald Trump, has sought to strengthen ties with India in the face of a rising China.

It is expected that Biden and Modi will meet next month in Tokyo, as part of the "Quad" (Quartet) summit, which also includes Japan and Australia.

The committee recommended adding Afghanistan to the blacklist following the Taliban victory, and also re-listing Nigeria, which the Biden administration had removed.

The countries on the State Department's religious freedom blacklist that could lead to sanctions are China, Eritrea, Iran, Burma, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.