USCIRF asks Obama to laud India's effort for religious freedom

A US Commission has asked President Barack Obama to commend India for its efforts in seeking justice for "vulnerable minority communities" when he addresses the Parliament on Monday.

"India has made important improvements in seeking justice for vulnerable minority communities that have borne the brunt of violence, but communal violence still fosters a climate of impunity," US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) chair Leonard Leo said yesterday.

"When President Obama addresses the Indian Parliament on November 8, we urge him to commend the country for the efforts it has made to date and to highlight that India's state and local governments should continue to take further action to prevent future sectarian violence, including more expeditious prosecution and punishment of perpetrators of religious violence," Leo said in a statement.

An independent, bipartisan federal commission, USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by US President and the leadership of both political parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Its principal responsibilities are to review facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress.