Washington: Continuing her anti-India stance, US Democratic Party MP Ilhan Omar has introduced a resolution, in which India is specifically concerned about the alleged violation of religious freedom from the US Secretary of State. A Declaration of a country has been demanded. Co-sponsored by lawmakers Rashida Talib and Juan Vargas, the resolution urges the administration of US President Joe Biden to implement the recommendations of the American Commission on International Religious Freedom, which has given India a special concern for three consecutive years. Declared country as
The motion, introduced in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, has been referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee for necessary action. Given MP Omar’s vindictive stand, such a resolution is not expected to pass. He has openly supported the Pakistani authorities on the issue of India. Omar has consistently shown an anti-India stand in many Congress hearings related to India.
Omar’s resolution condemns alleged human rights violations in India and violations of international religious freedom, including “targeting” Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, tribals, and other religious and cultural minorities. It expresses serious concern over the “bad treatment” of religious minorities in India. Earlier, India had rejected its criticism in the US State Department report on religious freedom, saying it was unfortunate that “vote bank politics” is being played in international relations as well.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said the report on India was “completely biased”. Earlier, US lawmaker Ilhan Abdullah Omar had visited Pakistan in April and met top leaders of the country, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan. She also visited Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). The purpose of this trip is not yet known.
India condemned Omar’s visit to PoK, saying his visit to the region violated the country’s sovereignty and reflected his “narrow-minded” politics. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said, “If someone does such narrow-minded politics in their country, then it does not make any sense to us. But if someone violates our territorial integrity and sovereignty in this sequence, it becomes a matter related to us. This trip is disgusting.
