June 12 2020: India has declined to give visas to teams from a US  government body monitoring international religious freedom. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed a ruling party lawmaker, it has no locus standi to make pronouncements on Indian citizens’ “constitutional-protected rights”.

Dr S Jaishankar wrote in his letter to the BJP MP, adding that the government has denied visas to teams from body seeking to visit India. The letter further stated, "USCIRFs views are not meant to represent the opinion of the US administration or the US Congress." "India does see the locus standi of a foreign entity like USCIRF to pronounce on the state of Indian citizens' constitutionally protected rights".

This is not the first time that the USCIRF has claimed that its teams have been denied visas. In its 2019 annual report, USCIRF had reported that it has been unable to visit India since 2001. “…on three different occasions—in 2001, 2009, and 2016—the government of India refused to grant visas for a USCIRF delegation despite requests being supported by the state department,” it said.

Now,  India would not accept any foreign interference or judgement on matters related to its sovereignty, Jaishankar added.