City
Epaper

Let's stand up for defence of religious freedom for all: Pompeo

By IANS | Updated: June 26, 2019 22:15 IST

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Wednesday pitched for the "defence of religious freedom for all", days after a report published by his ministry made critical remarks over the status of minorities in India.

Open in App

At the same time, he hailed the rule of law prevailing in India, like in the US, and said both the countries believe in it.

"India is the birth place of four major religions of the world. Let us stand up together for defence of religious freedom for all. Let's speak out strongly together in favour of those rights, for whenever we do compromise those rights, the world is worse off," he said while delivering a speech here.

A few days back, the US State Department, in its annual 2018 'International Religious Freedom Report', said: "Mob attacks by violent extremist Hindu groups against minority communities, especially Muslims, continued throughout the year amid rumours that victims had traded or killed cows for beef."

India rejected the observations, saying the "foreign entity/government" had "no locus standi to pronounce on the state of our citizens' constitutionally protected rights".

In his speech, Pompeo said both India and the US "protect inalienable rights" of their people.

Also referring to the Lok Sabha elections, he hailed the democratic exercise, saying "imagine if every country had the voice which Indian people recently expressed".

He said India and the US "should see the world as it is and see each other what we are great democracies, global powers and good friends".

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: indiauspompeoUs State Department
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalLaGuardia Airport Plane Accident: At Least 2 Killed, Several Injured After Air Canada Express CRJ-900 Collides With Fire Truck on Runway

InternationalIranian President Calls for Constructive Role of Brics to Halt West Asia Conflict During Talks With PM Modi

LifestyleEid 2026 Date: When Will Saudi Arabia, UAE and India Celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr?

InternationalUS-Israel-Iran War: Japan, Germany, France Show Caution Over Trump’s Strait of Hormuz Warship Plan

MaharashtraMaharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Unfurls 200-Foot National Flag at Nagpur’s Kasturchand Park

National Realted Stories

NationalHailstorm, strong winds batter MP; deaths reported, several injured

National"In this election, fear will be driven out of Bengal and confidence will awaken through BJP's victory": PM Modi in Cooch Behar rally

NationalAll pillars of democracy must work with mutual respect, says Telangana CM

NationalOver Rs 650 crore seized as ECI tightens poll vigilance to ensure free and fair election

National‘Malicious propaganda campaign’: Assam CM dismisses Pawan Khera’s allegations