Author: TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date:  April 16, 2020
URL:      https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-slams-us-body-for-fake-news-says-stop-communalising-war-on-covid-19/articleshow/75171355.cms

India on Wednesday slammed the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for spreading false media reports after the US body expressed concern over reports that Hindu and Muslim Covid patients were being segregated into different hospital wards in Gujarat.

"As if its peremptory commentary on religious freedom in India is not enough, the USCIRF is now spreading misguided reports on the professional medical protocols followed to deal with spread of Covid-19 in India," said MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava in a statement late on Wednesday.

USCIRF describes itself as an independent, bipartisan US federal government commission dedicated to defending the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad.

"It must stop adding religious colour to our national goal of fighting the pandemic and distract from larger efforts. No segregation is being done in civil hospitals on the basis of religion, as clarified by the Gujarat government," Srivastava added.

Reacting to report in a daily, USCIRF had tweeted that it was concerned with reports of "Hindu & Muslim patients separated into separate hospital wards in #Gujarat".

"Such actions only help to further increase ongoing stigmatisation of Muslims in #India and exacerbate false rumors of Muslims spreading Covid-19," it had said.

Besides MEA, Prasar Bharti New Service also slammed the US body for "peddling fake news". "Myth: USCIRF says #Covid patients are being segregated on religious lines in a Gujarat hospital, citing a news report. Reality: Unfortunate that this claim is based on a news item, already found to be fake and denied by the state government," it said.