'Introspect, stop lecturing': India hits back at US panel over Sharjeel Imam post

Kwatra's remarks came after US commission described jailed activist Sharjeel Imam as a person detained in India for his religious freedom advocacy.

NEW DELHI: India's ambassador to US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Saturday hit back at the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), saying it had "no locus standi" to comment on the constitutional rights of Indian citizens. His remarks came after the commission described jailed activist Sharjeel Imam as a person detained in India for his religious freedom advocacy.

In a strongly worded post on X, Kwatra rejected the commission's assessment and accused it of making partisan and ill-informed remarks about India's commitment to religious freedom and equal rights. "USCRIF has no locus standi to sit in judgment over the constitutional rights of Indian citizens. Its habitual partisan, ill-informed, and jaundiced assessments cannot diminish India’s constitutional commitment to religious freedom and equal rights for all faiths," Kwatra said.

"India flourishes defying the agenda-driven partisan narratives of the USCIRF. Taking the same liberty that USCIRF so readily assumes, a word of advice: introspect on your own prejudices and stop lecturing others," he added.

USCRIF shared Imam's profile on X, describing him as "a Muslim man detained in India for his religious freedom advocacy". The commission's post linked his detention to his advocacy for religious freedom, prompting a sharp response from the Indian envoy.

Imam, a former student activist was arrested in January 2020 in connection with protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) held in December 2019 and January 2020, according to ANI. Authorities accused him of delivering speeches that allegedly incited communal violence. In August 2020, he was charged in connection with FIR 59/2020, which relates to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 North-East Delhi riots, according to ANI. The case, being investigated by the Delhi Police Special Cell, invokes provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The charges include rioting, murder, promoting enmity, unlawful activities and alleged terrorist acts.

Imam was earlier granted interim bail from October 4 to October 10 to attend his cousin's wedding functions. The relief came with conditions barring him from using social media, interacting with media persons or meeting anyone other than family members, relatives and friends. Established by the US government in 1998 after the inaction of the International Religious Freedom Act, the recommendations of USCIRF are non-binding on the US State Department.