US officials urge Washington to demand Indian action on recent gurdwara attacks

UPDATE - follow-up to Two USCIRF officials claim vigilante attacks on gurdwaras in India: Two commissioners of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom have called on Washington to demand that New Delhi bring to justice those behind recent vigilante assaults on Sikh gurdwaras. Commissioner David Anderson said gurdwaras have faced attacks in recent weeks, some aimed at religious leaders, and urged that U.S. security aid be tied to India's response. Anderson posted his comment on Twitter without further details. Commissioner Joe Grogan added that similar attacks on churches and mosques also breach internationally recognised freedom‑of‑religion rights and asked the U.S. to keep pressing India to protect worship places. Grogan made a comparable statement on the same platform. India has rejected the commission’s credibility, labeling it a partisan body. The USCIRF was created by the United States in 1998 following perceived gaps in the International Religious Freedom Act; its recommendations are advisory and not binding on the State Department. The commissioners made their remarks via social‑media posts without providing detailed evidence. No specific perpetrators were identified in their statements. ## Context The push reflects ongoing concerns about religious‑site safety in India and illustrates how the U.S. sometimes links aid to human‑rights practices. India’s dismissal of the commission underscores diplomatic friction over external criticism of domestic religious issues.