By MD Mesha 

NEW DELHI (TSAT) - The Transparency International on Tuesday called the human rights situation in India is “worrying” and said the Hindu nationalist BJP led government in the country targeting opponents.

In its annual report titled “CPI 2021 for Asia Pacific: Grand corruption and lack of freedom holding back progress”, the German based anti-corruption watch-dog said that in most countries corruption is spreading because of restrictions on civil liberties.

“The case of India is particularly worrying. While the country’s score [Corruption Perceptions Index]  has remained stagnant over the past decade, some of the mechanisms that could help reign in corruption are weakening,” said in the report.

However, Transparency International raised questions over the fundamental freedom in the country and said “there are concerns”.

“Journalists and activists are particularly at risk and have been victims of attacks by the police, political militants, criminal gangs and corrupt local officials. Civil society organisations that speak up against the government have been targeted with security, defamation, sedition, hate speech and contempt-of-court charges, and with regulations on foreign funding,” the anti-corruption organisation said.

Its added that India, Philippines and China are among those countries where leaders portray itself more effective than its state institutions to get the public support and enjoy the power.

However, the report said that due to Chinese President Xi Jinping strict actions and anti-corruption move have show that country gain a 9 points but they also questioned over the freedom of speech and human rights issues in the country.

The report also showed that corruption has been increased in Pakistan as the country dropped 16 places in the CPI for 2021 compared to 2020, now ranking 140 out of 180 countries across the world.

Despite, Prime Minister Imran Khan promises his government failed to control the corruption in the country.