The Evening Wrap: India rejects criticism in U.S. State Department religious freedom report

India Friday rejected its criticism in a U.S. State Department report on religious freedom, saying it is unfortunate that “vote bank politics is being practised in international relations”. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the observation of India in the report is based on “motivated inputs and biased views”. The annual report on international religious freedom, released by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, alleged that attacks on members of the minority communities, including killings, assaults, and intimidation, took place in India throughout 2021. “We have noted the release of the U.S. State Department 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom, and ill- informed comments by senior U.S. officials,” Bagchi said. “It is unfortunate that vote bank politics is being practised in international relations. We would urge that assessments based on motivated inputs and biased views be avoided,” he added. Bagchi was responding to media queries on the report “As a naturally pluralistic society, India values religious freedom and human rights. In our discussions with the U.S., we have regularly highlighted issues of concern there, including racially and ethnically motivated attacks, hate crimes and gun violence,” he said. The India section of the report mentioned incidents of attacks on the religious minorities. “Attacks on members of religious minority communities, including killings, assaults, and intimidation occurred throughout the year. These included incidents of cow vigilantism’ against non-Hindus based on allegations of cow slaughter or trade in beef,” said the India section of the report. Take steps to stop targeted killings in J&K, Congress tells Centre The Narendra Modi government should take immediate steps to stop targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits and migrant workers in Jammu and Kashmir and relocate them to secure places within 24 hours, the Congress said on Friday. Separately, senior leader and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, interacting with reporters in Raipur, questioned the silence of BJP leaders over “the killing of Hindus” in Kashmir valley. “They used to trumpet the removal Article 370 in J&K, broke the State into three parts and imposed Governor’s Rule. Now, why are Kashmiri Pandits and Hindus being killed? Who will take responsibility for the killings of the Pandits and Hindus?” asked Baghel. “They had the time to watch the movie Kashmir Files, but now when people are actually being killed, the BJP-RSS people are silent. The important thing is that their strategy has completely failed,” the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister added. Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha, who introduced himself as a Kashmiri Pandit at the party’s briefing, urged the Modi government to inform the country of the steps taken to restore peace. He also asked the government to take other political parties on board to restore a sense of confidence among the panic-stricken people. “Today, people are being killed inside government offices, and even government offices are not safe. Please take them to secure places and put security around them,” he said. Tankha said that there were over 10,000 non-Kashmiris working in the Kashmir Valley and they needed to be assured if the government did not want them to flee. “When the issue was debated in Parliament, I had said that Kashmir issue is larger than Article 370, which was a mere law that was diluted as well. To address Kashmir, you need a lot of statesmanship and it was lacking. If you want peace and amity, then you have to address stakeholders,” he said, without spelling out who he meant by stakeholders. Apart from security, the Congress as well as other Opposition leaders demanded compensation for those who died in the recent targeted killings. Shiv Sena deputy leader Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah asking for compensation for the victims and an investigation into the killings. “In view of the current situation in Kashmir, I request you to provide adequate security to the Hindu community in Kashmir. Considering the gravity of the situation, I also request you to order an investigation into the recent killings by a competent authority,” the Sena MP wrote. Ukraine war ‘will have no winner,’ U.N. says on 100th day of fight The United Nations said on Friday there would be no victor from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as the conflict entered its 100th day and Moscow’s forces pressed deeper into the eastern Donbas region. “This war has and will have no winner. Rather, we have witnessed for 100 days what is lost: lives, homes, jobs and prospects,” Amin Awad, Assistant Secretary-General and United Nations Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine, said in a statement. The milestone came as Kyiv announced Moscow was now in control of a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and parts of Donbas seized in 2014. Russia’s invasion, which began on February 24, saw Moscow’s troops first attempt a blitz on Kyiv before relinquishing control of area around the capital and Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv in the north east. The have made steady gain in the south and east, however. “This war has taken an unacceptable toll on people and engulfed virtually all aspects of civilian life,” Awad said. “In just over three months, nearly 14 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes, the majority women and children,” the statement said. The U.N. said the group was working to limit the war’s “devastating impact on food security by seeking to unblock critical grain and commodity trade.” Cereal prices have surged because of a slump in exports from Ukraine, sharpening the impact of conflict and climate change and sparking fears of social unrest. “We need peace. The war must end now,” the UN’s statement read. Myanmar junta to carry out country’s first judicial executions in decades: Spokesman Myanmar’s junta will execute a former member of Aung San Suu Kyi’s party and a prominent democracy activist, both of whom were convicted of terrorism, in the country’s first judicial executions since 1990, a spokesman told AFP on Friday. Four people, including former MP Phyo Zeya Thaw and democracy activist Ko Jimmy, “who were sentenced to death will be hanged according to prison procedures”, Zaw Min Tun told AFP. The junta has sentenced dozens of anti-coup activists to death as part of its crackdown on dissent after seizing power last year, but Myanmar has not carried out an execution for decades. Phyo Zeya Thaw, a former member of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy who was arrested in November, was sentenced to death in January for offences under anti-terrorism laws. Prominent democracy activist Kyaw Min Yu — better known as ‘Jimmy’ — received the same sentence from the military tribunal. “They continued the legal process of appealing and sending a request letter for the amendment of the sentence,” said junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun. “But the court rejected their appeal and request. There is no other step after that,” he added. Two other men, who were convicted and sentenced to death for killing a woman they alleged was an informer for the junta in Yangon, will also be executed, the spokesman said. No date has been set for the executions, he added. The junta’s decision to “move towards executing two prominent political leaders will be like pouring gasoline on the fire of popular anti-military resistance in the country”, said Phil Robertson, a deputy director at Human Rights Watch. “Such a move will also lead to global condemnation and cement the junta’s reputation as among the worst of the worst human rights abusers in Asia.” Phyo Zeya Thaw had been accused of orchestrating several attacks on regime forces, including a gun attack on a commuter train in Yangon in August that killed five policemen. A hip-hop pioneer whose subversive rhymes irked the previous junta, he was jailed in 2008 for membership of an illegal organisation and possession of foreign currency. He was elected to parliament representing Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD in the 2015 elections, which ushered in a transition to civilian rule. Kyaw Min Yu, who rose to prominence during Myanmar’s 1988 student uprising against the country’s previous military regime, was arrested in an overnight raid in October. The junta issued an arrest warrant for him last year, alleging he had incited unrest with his social media posts. In Brief Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that when he targets parivarvad or dynasticm in politics, he does not hold any personal resentment against any political party of particular individual and asserted that he wants a strong Opposition in the country. “I want a strong Opposition in the country and political parties committed to democracy. I want parties in the grip of parivarvad free (mukt) themselves from this disease and get themselves treated,” Mr. Modi said. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow [logo] The Evening Wrap 03 JUNE 2022 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( India rejects criticism in U.S. State Department religious freedom report India Friday [rejected its criticism]( in [a U.S. State Department report on religious freedom]( saying it is unfortunate that “vote bank politics is being practised in international relations”. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the observation of India in the report is based on “motivated inputs and biased views”. The annual report on international religious freedom, released by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, alleged that attacks on members of the minority communities, including killings, assaults, and intimidation, took place in India throughout 2021. “We have noted the release of the U.S. State Department 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom, and ill- informed comments by senior U.S. officials,” Bagchi said. “It is unfortunate that vote bank politics is being practised in international relations. We would urge that assessments based on motivated inputs and biased views be avoided,” he added. Bagchi was responding to media queries on the report “As a naturally pluralistic society, India values religious freedom and human rights. In our discussions with the U.S., we have regularly highlighted issues of concern there, including racially and ethnically motivated attacks, hate crimes and gun violence,” he said. The India section of the report mentioned incidents of attacks on the religious minorities. “Attacks on members of religious minority communities, including killings, assaults, and intimidation occurred throughout the year. These included incidents of cow vigilantism’ against non-Hindus based on allegations of cow slaughter or trade in beef,” said the India section of the report. Take steps to stop targeted killings in J&K, Congress tells Centre The Narendra Modi government should take immediate steps to stop targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits and migrant workers in Jammu and Kashmir and relocate them to secure places within 24 hours, the [Congress said]( on Friday. Separately, senior leader and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, interacting with reporters in Raipur, questioned the silence of BJP leaders over “the killing of Hindus” in Kashmir valley. “They used to trumpet the removal Article 370 in J&K, broke the State into three parts and imposed Governor’s Rule. Now, why are Kashmiri Pandits and Hindus being killed? Who will take responsibility for the killings of the Pandits and Hindus?” asked Baghel. “They had the time to watch the movie Kashmir Files, but now when people are actually being killed, the BJP-RSS people are silent. The important thing is that their strategy has completely failed,” the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister added. Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha, who introduced himself as a Kashmiri Pandit at the party’s briefing, urged the Modi government to inform the country of the steps taken to restore peace. He also asked the government to take other political parties on board to restore a sense of confidence among the panic-stricken people. “Today, people are being killed inside government offices, and even government offices are not safe. Please take them to secure places and put security around them,” he said. Tankha said that there were over 10,000 non-Kashmiris working in the Kashmir Valley and they needed to be assured if the government did not want them to flee. “When the issue was debated in Parliament, I had said that Kashmir issue is larger than Article 370, which was a mere law that was diluted as well. To address Kashmir, you need a lot of statesmanship and it was lacking. If you want peace and amity, then you have to address stakeholders,” he said, without spelling out who he meant by stakeholders. Apart from security, the Congress as well as other Opposition leaders demanded compensation for those who died in the recent targeted killings. Shiv Sena deputy leader Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah asking for compensation for the victims and an investigation into the killings. “In view of the current situation in Kashmir, I request you to provide adequate security to the Hindu community in Kashmir. Considering the gravity of the situation, I also request you to order an investigation into the recent killings by a competent authority,” the Sena MP wrote. Ukraine war ‘will have no winner,’ U.N. says on 100th day of fight  The United Nations said on Friday [there would be no victor]( from [Russia’s invasion of Ukraine]( as the conflict entered its 100th day and Moscow’s forces pressed deeper into the eastern Donbas region. “This war has and will have no winner. Rather, we have witnessed for 100 days what is lost: lives, homes, jobs and prospects,” Amin Awad, Assistant Secretary-General and United Nations Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine, said in a statement. [A girl rides a scooter near destroyed buildings during attacks in Irpin outskirts of Kyiv on June 2, 2022. ] The milestone came as Kyiv announced Moscow was now in control of a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and parts of Donbas seized in 2014. Russia’s invasion, which began on February 24, saw Moscow’s troops first attempt a blitz on Kyiv before relinquishing control of area around the capital and Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv in the north east. The have made steady gain in the south and east, however. “This war has taken an unacceptable toll on people and engulfed virtually all aspects of civilian life,” Awad said. “In just over three months, nearly 14 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes, the majority women and children,” the statement said. The U.N. said the group was working to limit the war’s “devastating impact on food security by seeking to unblock critical grain and commodity trade.” Cereal prices have surged because of a slump in exports from Ukraine, sharpening the impact of conflict and climate change and sparking fears of social unrest. “We need peace. The war must end now,” the UN’s statement read. Myanmar junta to carry out country’s first judicial executions in decades: Spokesman Myanmar’s junta will execute a former member of Aung San Suu Kyi’s party and a prominent democracy activist, both of whom were convicted of terrorism, in [the country’s first judicial executions since 1990]( a spokesman told AFP on Friday. Four people, including former MP Phyo Zeya Thaw and democracy activist Ko Jimmy, “who were sentenced to death will be hanged according to prison procedures”, Zaw Min Tun told AFP. The junta has sentenced dozens of anti-coup activists to death as part of its crackdown on dissent after seizing power last year, but Myanmar has not carried out an execution for decades. Phyo Zeya Thaw, a former member of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy who was arrested in November, was sentenced to death in January for offences under anti-terrorism laws. Prominent democracy activist Kyaw Min Yu — better known as ‘Jimmy’ — received the same sentence from the military tribunal. “They continued the legal process of appealing and sending a request letter for the amendment of the sentence,” said junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun. “But the court rejected their appeal and request. There is no other step after that,” he added. Two other men, who were convicted and sentenced to death for killing a woman they alleged was an informer for the junta in Yangon, will also be executed, the spokesman said. No date has been set for the executions, he added. The junta’s decision to “move towards executing two prominent political leaders will be like pouring gasoline on the fire of popular anti-military resistance in the country”, said Phil Robertson, a deputy director at Human Rights Watch. “Such a move will also lead to global condemnation and cement the junta’s reputation as among the worst of the worst human rights abusers in Asia.” Phyo Zeya Thaw had been accused of orchestrating several attacks on regime forces, including a gun attack on a commuter train in Yangon in August that killed five policemen. A hip-hop pioneer whose subversive rhymes irked the previous junta, he was jailed in 2008 for membership of an illegal organisation and possession of foreign currency. He was elected to parliament representing Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD in the 2015 elections, which ushered in a transition to civilian rule. Kyaw Min Yu, who rose to prominence during Myanmar’s 1988 student uprising against the country’s previous military regime, was arrested in an overnight raid in October. The junta issued an arrest warrant for him last year, alleging he had incited unrest with his social media posts. In Brief [President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit an exhibition at Paraunkh, Mr. Kovind’s ancestral village in Kanpur on June 3, 2022. Photo: PIB via PTI] Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that when he targets parivarvad or dynasticm in politics, he does not hold any personal resentment against any political party of particular individual and asserted that he [wants a strong Opposition in the country](. “I want a strong Opposition in the country and political parties committed to democracy. I want parties in the grip of parivarvad free (mukt) themselves from this disease and get themselves treated,” Mr. Modi said. 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