Human rights Groups in America ask Barak Obama to stress religious freedom in talks with Indian Prime Minister

WASHINGTON: Several human rights groups in America have asked the president Obama to pressurize the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan SinghManmohan Singh to include religious freedom in discussions between the two countries. The Indian Prime Minister is on an official state visit to America.

In a letter addressed to the President the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) counseled the President to speak to the prime minister on the “culture of impunity for perpetrators of violence against religious groups in India, and to prevent future incidents of sectarian violence against religious minorities.”

Manmohan Singh reached Washington on Sunday for a four day visit as the state guest of the president. There is also a delegation with the prime minister to hold bilateral talks between the countries. It is expected that the largest democracies in the world would discuss terrorism, nuclear disarmament, environment and climate change, and the global economic recession.

The USCIRF Chief Leonard Leo in his letter dated on Nov. 20 states, "India is the world’s largest democracy and home to a multitude of religious communities that have historically coexisted peacefully; however, the Indian government has failed to bring the perpetrators and instigators of sectarian violence to justice."

Amnesty International urged the US president to “candidly’ address the human rights violation in India and ask the Prime Minister to improve the situation “substantively”, in their meeting. Larry CoxLarry Cox the Amnesty International Executive Director wrote in his Nov. 18 letter, “While you discuss economic cooperation and civilian nuclear partnership with the Indian Prime Minister, it is vital that you also raise human rights concerns affecting millions of Indian citizens.”

The letter strongly suggest that the President should include human rights violations in India as a point for discussion, saying. “Amnesty International strongly urges you to include human rights concerns in India in your joint communiqué with Prime Minister Singh and to address human rights concerns during your joint press conference.” It further states, “Mr. President, we urge you not to miss this opportunity to speak for those whose rights have been violated in India. They need your help.”

Pointing out the Kandhamal Violence last year in Orissa, the USCIRF said, “Many thousands of accusations against alleged perpetrators in the aftermath of this violence, and to date there have been few convictions.” The USCIRF points a finger at the ruling Congress party as well saying that the party had been talking a lot about peace and religious pluralism in India,"its words have not translated into actions to protect religious freedom throughout the country."

The letter by USCIRF signs off the letter with the words, "As you noted in your remarks last January on the fifty-eighth anniversary of Indian democracy, the United States and India have a shared belief in ‘democracy, liberty, pluralism and religious tolerance’. Therefore, in the spirit of partnership, we encourage you to raise these issues with Prime Minister Singh."