Singh

MEMORANDUM **

Ranjit Singh, a native and citizen of India, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ decision dismissing his appeal from the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) denial of his applications for asylum and withholding of removal, and request for relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review for substantial evidence an adverse credibility finding and will uphold the IJ’s decision unless the evidence compels a contrary conclusion. Malhi v. INS, 336 F.3d 989, 992-93 (9th Cir.2003). We deny the petition for review.

We conclude that substantial evidence supports the IJ’s decision because Singh’s testimony was inconsistent and contradictory regarding which political party he was affiliated with and regarding the activities and tenets of his claimed political party. See Mejia-Paiz v. INS, 111 F.3d 720 , 724 (9th Cir.1997). Furthermore, substantial evidence supports the IJ’s finding that Singh’s demeanor was inconsistent with a truthful rendition of the facts, and appeared rehearsed. See Singh-Kaur v. INS, 183 F.3d 1147, 1151 (9th Cir.1999). The IJ specifically noted that Singh tried to cover his face or…