# India Rejects US Commission's Claims on Gurdwara Attacks New Delhi labels the USCIRF a biased entity with a political agenda. - **Source:** [NDTV – Top Stories](https://www.ndtv.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/5baf5ca2-a975-42cb-aa6a-26e9199d5843 ## Diplomatic Tensions Escalate The Indian Ministry of External Affairs officially rejected recent remarks made by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the organization as a biased and ill-informed entity. This sharp rebuttal follows claims from two senior commission officials regarding alleged vigilante attacks targeting Sikh gurdwaras within India. ## USCIRF Allegations Detailed Commissioner David Anderson recently stated on social media that Sikh gurdwaras have faced targeted violence over several weeks. He specifically cited attempts to harm religious leaders and suggested that the US government should link security assistance to India's response. These comments have directly triggered a strong diplomatic protest from New Delhi. ## Broader Religious Freedom Concerns Commissioner Joe Grogan joined the criticism, asserting that attacks on churches, gurdwaras, and mosques undermine international religious freedom rights. The commission urged the US government to pressure Indian authorities to hold perpetrators accountable. These statements reflect the commission's ongoing monitoring of religious practices and security conditions across various global jurisdictions. ## India Questions Commission Credibility New Delhi dismissed the commission's findings as a blatantly political agenda rather than objective analysis. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal questioned why the organization remains silent regarding attacks on religious sites within the United States. He further highlighted a perceived lack of concern regarding hate crimes and racial abuse targeting the Indian community abroad. ## History of Policy Recommendations The USCIRF is a bipartisan federal agency tasked with providing policy recommendations to the US President, Secretary of State, and Congress. Its mandate includes tracking the implementation of these suggestions globally. In August, the commission previously called for sanctions against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, further straining the relationship between the two entities. ## Diplomatic Courtesy Disputes Beyond the recent comments on gurdwaras, the commission has previously advised Washington to withhold diplomatic courtesies from specific Indian organizational leaders. This history of friction underscores the deep ideological divide between the commission's mandate and the Indian government's stance on sovereignty. Both sides remain firmly entrenched in their respective positions. ## Impact on Bilateral Relations The public exchange highlights the complexities of managing human rights discourse between strategic partners. While the US and India maintain deep security and economic ties, institutional critiques regarding internal affairs often cause friction. The rejection of these claims signals that India will continue to challenge external assessments of its domestic policies. ## Future Monitoring Expectations Observers should monitor whether these diplomatic tensions influence future security cooperation or high-level bilateral meetings. As the USCIRF continues to track religious freedom metrics, India is likely to maintain its policy of rejecting what it deems as prejudiced interference. The situation remains a point of contention in the broader US-India diplomatic framework. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/blatantly-political-india-rejects-us-body-uscirf-remarks-on-gurdwara-attacks-12308202#publisher=newsstand — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._