'Prejudiced Entities': India Slams USCIRF Over Silence on Anti-Hindu Attacks in US
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
India has rejected criticism from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), labelling it a "biased and ill-informed organisation" driven by a "blatantly political agenda" whilst highlighting its silence on hate crimes against the Indian diaspora in the US.
Speaking at a bi-weekly press briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal questioned the credibility of the American monitoring body. He pointed out that the commission and its leadership consistently turn a blind eye to targeted aggression against Indian-Americans and their places of worship across North America.
"It is particularly telling, and you must note that the USCIRF and its commissioners have consistently kept silent on attacks on religious places in the United States, as well as on hate crimes and racial abuse that are targeted at the Indian community in the United States. Prejudiced entities like the USCIRF can hardly be taken seriously," Jaiswal stated.
Targeted Attack on Illinois Hindu Temple
The MEA's sharp reaction follows a foiled attack on a Hindu place of worship in the US state of Illinois. Prosecutors revealed that Alexandros Paporakis, 19, a self-identified neo-Nazi from Palatine, attempted to open fire on worshippers outside the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora on 11 October, coinciding with the first day of Navaratri.
The attack was thwarted when the assailant's rifle jammed. Investigators recovered an eight-page white supremacist manifesto detailing plans for violence directed at Indian Americans inside houses of worship.
Addressing the incident, Scott Wehrli, Mayor of neighbouring Naperville, condemned the hate-driven assault on community members who had gathered at the Aurora temple.
Lawmakers Demand Action as Anti-South Asian Hate Soars
The attempted temple shooting sparked widespread alarm across Capitol Hill. A bipartisan coalition of 105 US lawmakers wrote to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), demanding a formal investigation into the episode as a federal hate crime while warning against the escalation of threats facing South Asian communities.
"No one should fear being targeted because of their ancestry, appearance, or faith, and no congregation should have to wonder whether gathering for worship will make its members targets of mass violence," the lawmakers stated in their joint letter.
Congressional concern is backed by data detailing a surge in online abuse. A September 2026 report by the Centre for the Study of Organised Hate documented over 542,000 hateful posts targeted at South Asians on the social media platform X between January 2025 and June 2026.
