The Amnesty International has accused India of 'undermining' the rights of minorities to 'live in the country as equals'.
"Religious minorities, particularly Muslims, are being increasingly targeted for abuse by state and non-state actors," the international human rights organisation said in its annual report.
The report, which was launched globally, charged that in Gujarat, Muslims were victims of massacres allegedly masterminded by nationalist groups.
The security forces, the report added, abused human rights as a result of provisions contained in special security laws, including Prevention of Terrorism Act.
It, however, appreciated the 'independent position' taken by the National Human Rights Commission in the aftermath of the Gujarat violence, but regretted that most recommendations of the Commission remained 'largely ignored' by the state government.
Claiming that human right activists were 'isolated' in the country, it said, "The rights defenders are frequently harassed by State and private actors, and their activities labelled as anti-national."
"The criminal justice system remained extremely slow, under-resourced and difficult to access for people from socially and economically marginalised sections of society, including lower castes and women," the report said.
