New Delhi: Russia has claimed that the US was trying to interfere in India’s parliamentary elections and unbalance the internal political situation in the country. In a media briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also said the US was yet to provide “reliable evidence” of the involvement of Indian citizens in the foiled murder plot against Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
While referring to US reports on religious freedom in India, Zakharova said the US lacked an understanding of India’s national mentality and history. “America continues to make ‘unfounded accusations’ about religious freedoms,” RT News quoted Zakharova as saying. Zakharova called it “disrespectful” to India. “The reason (behind the US accusations) is to unbalance the internal political situation in India and complicate the general elections,” she further said.
US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in its latest report has criticised India for alleged violations of religious freedom and several other issues. It called for designating India and 16 other countries as countries of particular concern for engaging in or tolerating particularly severe violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief”.
Strongly objecting, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) declared that the study was “biased” and that the USCIRF was still “publishing anti-India propaganda” under the guise of its annual report. Additionally, the Russian official denied US claims that Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was to be killed by an Indian intelligence officer.
“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 Pannun. Speculation on this topic in the absence of evidence is unacceptable,” Zakharova said.
