India today said it took no cognizance of a US State Department report on international religious freedom which has charged Indian leadership with "institutionalising" Hindutva and "using" it for political purposes.
"These reports are internal to the US Administration. Government of India takes no cognizance of it," External Affairs Ministry spokesman told reporters when asked about the report.
He said it was widely acknowledged internationally that India is a secular country where Constitution provides absolute protection of religious freedom and where democratic government, rule of law and established conventions further promote and protect this right.
Any abuses are handled by our internal processes including judiciary, press, civil society and National Human Rights Commission and so on, he said.
The US State Department report to the US Congress noted that Jammu and Kashmir was the focus of violence and that militants have carried out several execution-style mass killings of Hindu villagers and violently targeted Kashmiri Pandits in an attempt to force Hindus to emigrate.
The report, authored by Ambassador at Large John V Hanford accused the Indian leadership of "fomenting" Hindutva and "using" it for political purposes.
"We also see various states in India passing anti-conversion laws and taking very strict measure that can end up restricting very basic religious freedoms and, indeed, freedom to determine one's own faith," it said.