Close on the heels of the Lok Sabha approving the Citizenship Amendment Bill, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a human rights watchdog, has sought the US government to impose sanctions on home minister Amit Shah if the bill gets approved by the upper house as well. The bill, the body says, marks a “dangerous turn” as it violates India’s secular principles. Could this hurt India’s foreign relations? That seems unlikely given India’s strengthening ties with the US. But, our leadership needs to be mindful not to let negative perceptions build. If that happens, such moves could over a longer term lead to India’s overseas standing getting weakened.

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