India shouldn't be stereotyped by isolated cases: BJP

NEW DELHI: Reacting sharply to the US Congress panel report on religious freedom in India, BJP today said the country should not be judged through the issue of NGO licences and not stereotyped through "some isolated" cases.

"It would not be proper on the part of those who are ignorant of India's culture, society, customs and constitution to give a certificate about the country's social harmony and religious freedom," Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

"Our Constitution, culture and government are committed to ensuring the security and freedom of minorities in India. Please do not judge our religious freedom through the issue of NGO licences," he said.

Naqvi said that some isolated cases should not used to stereotype the country's image. He said isolated incidents like racial discrimination do happen in all parts of the world but one should not judge the entire country on the basis of such incidents.

He said India is the largest secular democratic country in the world and it is because there is harmony and brotherhood among its people and "this (harmony) is the beauty of this country".

He was reacting to a report by USCIRF ( US Commission on International Religious Freedom) which claimed that minorities in the country have been subjected to "violent attacks" and "forced conversions" after the Modi government assumed power in 2014.