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Centre wants details on US funds for NGOs promoting ‘religious freedom’ in India
The US government said it wants to “increase societal tolerance” and reduce “religiously-motivated violence” and discrimination in India with the nearly $500,000 grant to NGOs in the country.
The government said on Thursday it has sought details about the US State Department announcement to provide nearly $500,000 to non-government organisations to promote religious freedom in India and stressed that all the organisations might follow the rules of the land.
“We have seen reports and have sought details,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told reporters.
“In any case, any such activity in India in this area by anybody has to follow the rules of the land,” the spokesperson said. He said he would comment further after getting the details .
The US government said it wants to “increase societal tolerance” and reduce “religiously-motivated violence” and discrimination in India with the nearly $500,000 grant to NGOs in the country. The State Department on Wednesday announced the gr- ant for organisations which can come up with ideas and projects to promote religious freedom.
The State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, in a notice, had said that it seeks to “reduce religiously-motivated violence and discrimination in India through its $4,93,827-grant programme.”
“The aim of the programme is to increase societal tolerance and improve civilian security to reduce religiously-motivated violence and discrimination, and the funds will support activities that work toward that end,” a State Department spokesperson told PTI in Washington.
(With agency inputs)
