India: 'Citing improvements in religious liberty, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom last month asked that India be removed from the U.S. government’s list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC). India was designated a CPC in 2004 after a series of violent attacks on Muslims and Christians. The Commission felt the BJP government in power at the time did not adequately address the killing of nearly 2,000 Muslims in riots in 2002, nor had it protected the Christian minority from other violent attacks. Church leaders in India expressed surprise over the latest USCIRF decision and say a climate of religious hostility is still evident. “The RSS [a Hindu extremist organization with close ties to the BJP] ... [is] spreading hate among the tribals and buying its way into the bureaucracy and judiciary,” said Dr. John Dayal, a prominent Indian Christian and memberof the National Integration Council.' (Compass Direct)