Former Diplomat Slams USCIRF Report, Says India Doesn't Need 'Goras' Advice

Former Diplomat Slams USCIRF Report, Says India Doesn't Need 'Goras' Advice

Former diplomat Bhaswati Mukherjee has issued a sharp rebuke to the latest report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which targeted India's Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). In an interview with ANI, Mukherjee emphasized that India's democratic institutions are fully capable of handling internal matters without external interference.

Strong Rebuttal from 275 Signatories

A total of 275 signatories, including 25 retired judges, 119 retired bureaucrats, and 131 armed forces officers, have joined in condemning the USCIRF report. The report had called for sanctions against RSS and RAW over alleged discrimination against minority communities in India. The signatories labeled the recommendations as "disturbing" and "off-the-mark," accusing USCIRF of displaying "intellectual bankruptcy."

Mukherjee's Fiery Response

Mukherjee did not mince words in her criticism, stating, "We didn't slam them, we demolished them. And they deserve to be demolished." She questioned the basis of the report, particularly its targeting of RAW, which she compared to the CIA, and RSS, an organization founded a century ago with a focus on national service. "To drag them in, to say that their assets should be frozen, they shouldn't be allowed to travel. What do they think, that they are dealing with some banana republic?" she added, highlighting India's status as a major emerging nation.

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Assertion of India's Sovereignty

Emphasizing India's self-reliance, Mukherjee said, "We have long gone beyond the stage where we need Goras to tell us what to do. We don't need Goras to tell us what to do. On the contrary, the Goras should ask us for some tips on how to behave." She reiterated that India's judiciary and democratic mechanisms are robust enough to address any constitutional violations internally, without unsolicited advice from foreign entities.

Background of the Controversy

The USCIRF report alleged that India's political system fosters discrimination against religious minorities, despite constitutional protections for freedom of religion. It recommended sanctions against RSS and RAW, a move that has sparked widespread backlash from Indian officials and public figures. Mukherjee and other signatories argue that such interventions are unwarranted and disrespect India's sovereignty and democratic processes.