Russia accuses the US of interfering in India's internal affairs as it voiced concern over attempts by Washington to "disrupt" the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, particularly through baseless allegations relating to threats to religious freedom in the country.
Strongly reacting to a recent report issued by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Maria Zakharova, a Russian foreign ministry official, took the US to task over its report on religious freedom in India.
In a press briefing in Moscow on Wednesday, Zakharova remarked, "The recurring baseless accusations by the United States against New Delhi – we observe that they unjustly accuse not just India but also numerous other nations – of infringing upon religious freedoms, reflect the United States' lack of understanding of the national psyche, the historical backdrop of India's statehood, and its disrespect towards India as a sovereign nation."
She continued, "I am confident that this stems from a neocolonial mindset, reminiscent of the colonial era, the slave trade, and imperialism. This is not exclusive to India. The objective is to destabilize India's domestic political landscape to complicate the ongoing parliamentary elections in the country. Undoubtedly, this constitutes interference in India's internal affairs."
Addressing a query during the routine media interaction, Zakharova also commented on a report in a U.S. newspaper alleging an Indian official's involvement in a "foiled assassination" plot on foreign soil.
"As per our information, Washington has yet to furnish any credible evidence implicating Indian nationals in the conspiracy to assassinate a certain G.S. Pannun. Speculation on this matter without substantiated proof is unacceptable," Zakharova emphasized.
Last week, India strongly rebuked the USCIRF report, asserting that the organization's attempts to influence India's ongoing elections are futile.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "They have issued such reports in the past also. The USCIRF is known for its biased and politicalovated approach. They continue to spew their venom against India in the name of their annual report. We do not expect USCIRF to make even an attempt to understand the India's complex pluralistic and democratic ethos. Their efforts to interfere in the world's largest democratic process will not succeed."
By keeping the original quotations, the flavor and meaning of the text are maintained yet given a new interpretation.
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