Their core contention: Religious liberty evaluations must transcend isolated events, incorporating comprehensive demographic data over decades. They invoke the 1947 Partition era, noting Hindus comprised 20.5% in undivided Pakistan (encompassing modern Bangladesh). Today, that dwindles to 1.5-2% in Pakistan and 7-8% in Bangladesh. Back in 1951, East Pakistan’s Hindu population stood at 20-22%, now a shadow of its former self.

Despite Bangladesh’s 1971 split, Hindu numbers continue to shrink in both countries—a trend corroborated by scholars and policymakers. India, however, presents a contrasting narrative of minority resilience. Census figures show Muslim population growth from 9.8% (1951) to 14.2% (2011), Christians stable at ~2.3%, and Sikhs marginally lower at 1.72% from 1.79%.

No evidence supports allegations of institutional pressures causing minority decline, the letter emphasizes. USCIRF stands accused of routinely portraying the RSS and other entities negatively, devoid of context or proof. Proper critique demands facts over generalizations.

With its independent judiciary, democratic mechanisms, and legislative checks, India’s framework ensures accountability for any rights abuses. The century-old RSS has championed grassroots initiatives in education, healthcare, and community upliftment worldwide.

Outrage peaks over USCIRF’s calls for sanctions against Indian citizens and RSS-linked freezes, labeled as prejudiced overreach. The U.S. is urged to vet report contributors. Led by ex-ambassador Bhaskaty Mukherjee and retired IAS officer M. Madan Gopal, this response reframes the religious freedom debate through India’s lens of data-driven progress.

However, Indian community leaders, including those from the Muslim community whose rights are purportedly at risk, have vehemently rejected the report’s conclusions. They assert that India continues to be a nation where religious minorities can practice their faith freely. These leaders suggest that such reports aim to sow division and tarnish India’s international reputation.

This is not an isolated incident, as USCIRF has previously issued similar allegations against India. Critics within the country question the consistency of these one-sided evaluations, viewing them as potential tools for exerting global pressure on India. In response, Indian commentators have drawn attention to the United States’ own challenges with minority rights. Data from US civil rights groups indicate a surge in hate crimes, particularly against Jewish and Muslim populations, with thousands of incidents recorded annually. Reports of vandalism at Hindu and Buddhist temples have also surfaced.

Analysts contend that these domestic statistics in the US raise serious questions about the nation’s authority to issue judgments on other countries’ religious freedom records. Many in India perceive the USCIRF report as a component of a broader geopolitical strategy to undermine emerging global powers, a sentiment that resonates with historical critiques of US foreign policy aimed at maintaining dominance.