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

OpinionsWhy is Trump So Upset with India?

InternationalEarthquake in Russia: Quake of Magnitude 8.0 Strikes Kamchatka Peninsula; Tsunami Warning Issued

MumbaiUniversity of Bristol Chooses Mumbai for Its First Overseas Campus, Set to Open in September 2026

NationalRaksha Bandhan 2025: Now You Can Send a Rakhi to Your Brother in India Post's Waterproof Envelope — Here's How to Track Your Parcel

NationalGold in Dubai Cheaper Than India: Pricing, Rules, and Import Limits Explained

National Realted Stories

NationalDhinakaran intervenes in Nainar-OPS spat, urges NDA to take back ex-AIADMK leader

NationalPhilippines President Marcos begins 5-day India visit today to boost defence, trade ties

NationalCM Rekha Gupta to table two CAG reports in Delhi Assembly today during monsoon session

NationalGovt and agency should find conspirators of Malegaon bomb blast: Bhaiyaji Joshi

NationalUP Police telecom gets 1,494 new recruits as CM Yogi hands over appointment letters