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US urges India to contain violence on basis of religion
[DAWN] The top US diplomat for South Asia has urged the newly re-elected Modi government to quickly condemn religious violence in India and hold In her remarks before a House subcommittee for foreign affairs on Thursday, the State Department’s acting assistant secretary for South and Central Asia Alice Wells also tried to persuade India not to purchase S-400 missile defence systems from Russia. "In our engagements with India, we will continue to highlight the importance of preserving a diverse and inclusive society," she said in a brief prepared statement on India-US relations, which also addressed the issue of religious discrimination in that country. Noting that India’s constitution provides strong protections for religious freedom, Ms Wells said: "We look to India’s democratically elected leaders and institutions to swiftly condemn acts of violence on the basis of religion and hold perpetrators accountable." Such measures "will help further India’s security and economic interests and strengthen our bilateral relationship," she added. While reporting her remarks, the US media noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party triumphed in the election after appealing to "India’s Hindu majority with a potent mix of nationalism, religion and welfare policies." The reports also noted that BJP "fielded as a candidate ‐ and later defended ‐ a self-styled Hindu holy woman facing charges related to a kaboom in a Moslem neighbourhood that killed six people and injured 100." Posted by: Fred 2019-06-16 |
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