The Centre for Policy Analysis (CPA), in its first global minority report, has listed India at the top of the list of countries for its treatment of religious minorities. India has topped the list on counts of inclusiveness towards religious minorities.
Released by former Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu, the report is based on conceptual issues relating to human rights, minorities, the concept of religious freedom and cultural dilemma of religious minorities, causes of religious differences and more.
While India has been ranked one in the global minority report, the United State of America (USA) bagged the fourth spot. Nepal is ranked at 39, whereas Russia is ranked 52. China and Bangladesh were ranked at 90 and 99, respectively. Pakistan is ranked at 104 in the report, whereas Taliban-led Afghanistan secured 109th position.
This is for the first time that an Indian body has rated other nations on the basis of their treatment of religious minorities.
“The global minority report doesn’t follow in the footsteps of other international reports on such issues which are generally prepared on the basis of some bizarre incidents, which do not present the overall situation in a country,” claims CPA in its report.
“India’s minority policy model focuses on the promotion of diversity. However, very often it does not have the desired results as there are many reports of classes on different issues between the majority and minority communities, particularly with the Muslims. This calls for a review of India’s minority policy and India needs to rationalize its minority policy if it wants to avoid conflict situations in the country,” Durga Nand Jha, executive chairman, CPA said.
The report has also recommended the United Nations (UN) to make it mandatory for every country to submit an annual minority rights compliance report regarding the declaration of minority rights.
“Some of the Indians have joined the bandwagon of those who have been bashing India over the years. Let there be a meaningful debate. The West gives sermons but never looks at the situations faced by their own country. India was once known as vishwa guru (world leader), but we never attacked any nation,” Naidu said while releasing the report.
