Statement by India at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group 27^th Session (1-12 May 2017) on Discrimination of Minorities and Worsening Situation of Freedom of Religion : 3^rd UPR of India. [Geneva, 4 May 2017]

India is a secular country and every citizen of India has the right to practice and promote his or her religion peacefully. India is one of the most diverse nations in terms of religion, being birth place of four major world religions – Hinduism, Jainism, Budhism and Sikhism.

2. Article 15 (1) and (2) of the Indian Constitution prohibit the State from discrimination of any citizen on the ground of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them. There are adequate provisions in the Indian Penal Code to deal with offences relating to religion.

3. The Government has set up the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the National Human Rights Commission and the National Commission for Minorities to investigate cases related to discrimination including religious discrimination and to make recommendations for their redressal.

4. All development schemes; all major initiatives; and all resources of the Government are targetted at reaching the needy across the board and the Government remains committed to ensuring that no discrimination, in whatever form, is practiced in implementation.

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