Washington: Alleging that India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) ascent to power has helped foster a climate in which extremists believe that violence against religious minorities will not be systematically punished, US Commission on International Religious Freedom has suggested India be included in the list of "Countries of Particular Concern."

"The ascent to power of the Sangh Parivar's political wing, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the current ruling party in the national Government coalition, has helped to foster a climate in which extremists believe that violence against religious minorities will not be systematically punished," it alleged in its latest annual report.

The commission renewed its recommendation, by majority vote to the US President George W Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell and the two Houses of Congress that India be included in the list of "Countries of Particular Concern."

This will require sanctions against India unless President Bush decides to waive them.

However, four out of 10 members dissented from the recommendation, pointing out that India is a democracy under the rule of law and national commissions and a free press are safeguards.

The dissenters were chairman Michael K Young, vice chairperson Nina Shea, and commissioners Preeta D Bansal and Archbishop Charles J Chaput.

Commissioner Chaput would place India on the watch list instead of among Countries of Particular Concern. The other dissenters wanted India not included at all among the violators of religious freedom.

The commissioners recommended without dissent that Pakistan, Burma, North Korea, Eritrea, Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan and Vietnam be included in the list of 'Countries of Particular Concern.'