Mike Pompeo said the United States has been consistent in the way that it has responded to these issues, not only in India but all across the world
Washington: A top American diplomat on Wednesday said the United States honours Indian democracy as they have a robust debate inside the country on the issues like citizenship Act and religious freedom.
“We deeply care and always protect minorities and religious rights everywhere. We honour Indian democracy as they have a robust debate on the issue that you raised,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters while addressing a news conference at the conclusion of the 2+2 ministerial dialogue.
On Wednesday Mr Pompeo along with the Defence Secretary Mark Esper hosted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for the talks.
The top diplomat of America was responding to a question on the agitation in India after the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act, alleging that this is religiously discriminatory in nature.
“Mr Secretary, your State Department has been a very vocal advocate of religious rights around the world. Do you think it appropriate for democracy to use religion as a determining criterion for citizenship,” he was asked?
“The question that you asked relating to India, if you had followed the debate on that particular legislation carefully, you would see that it is a measure which is designed to address the needs of persecuted religious minorities from certain countries,” said Mr Jaishankar responded to the question.
Jaishankar said, “If you look at what those countries are and therefore what their minorities are, perhaps you understand why certain religions were identified in terms of characterising those who had come across,”.
Mike Pompeo said the United States has been consistent in the way that it has responded to these issues, not only in India but all across the world.
So far, the officials have not confirmed or denied if the issue of religious freedom and human rights in India appeared during the 2+2 dialogue.
In the past, the Secretary of States Mike Pompeo had raised the issue of human rights and religious freedom with their Indian counterparts in their bilateral meetings.
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