Washington: Alleging that there has been an increase in violence against minorities with the rise in political influence of groups associated with sangh parivar, a US government body has renewed its call for designating India among the "countries of particular concern" that would invite sanctions under American laws.

In its annual report, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom said, "Despite India's Democratic traditions, religious minorities in India have periodically been subject to severe violence, including mass killings."

"It has become increasingly clear," says the report, "that an increase in such violence has coincided with the rise in political influence of groups associated with the sangh parivar."

With the rise in power of the sangh parivar's political wing Bharatiya Janata Party, "the climate of immunity for the perpetrators of attacks on minorities appears to have strengthened", says the commission, which was created by Congress to make recommendations to it and the government.

The commission renewed its recommendation calling upon the Secretary of State to designate as "countries of particular concern" India, Pakistan, Laos, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan and Vietnam.

It criticised the State Department for not following its recommendation, which would subject these countries to certain sanctions under US laws.

PTI