CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: New Delhi. Six members of the United States Congress have expressed concern over police action and the detention of protesters during demonstrations by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and student organisations in India. The US lawmakers have written to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging him to raise issues related to human rights, freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest in talks with Indian officials during his visit to India.
The letter was led by US House of Representatives member Jim McGovern. Pramila Jayapal, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Jesús “Chuy” García and Eleanor Holmes Norton are also among the signatories. The lawmakers said civil liberties, constitutional order and the right to peaceful assembly are important in relations between democratic countries such as India and the United States.
The lawmakers referred to reports concerning student protests in India, large-scale detentions, alleged excessive use of force and restrictions on internet services. The letter also mentioned the controversy over the alleged deletion of a large number of names during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. The CJP and protesters linked to it have been questioning the voter list revision process and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Protesters allege that the process could affect the rights of eligible voters. At the same time, differences remain at the political and administrative levels over these allegations and the legality of the process.
The US lawmakers asked Rubio to raise with Indian officials the demand for an independent, transparent and impartial investigation into alleged human rights violations. They also urged him to take up the issue of the release of people allegedly detained unlawfully for exercising their rights to peaceful expression and assembly. The letter also sought an investigation into some allegations linked to Indian diplomatic missions in the United States. The lawmakers requested an assessment of whether there has been any continuing pattern of intimidation or harassment of people in the US. In this context, they also asked that consideration be given to reviewing India’s eligibility for arms purchases under US law.
The letter comes at a time when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Indian officials. The Indian government has previously objected to comments by US lawmakers on the country’s internal democratic processes, calling them inappropriate. The development could bring issues related to protests and civil liberties in India into the India-US dialogue. However, the demand by the US lawmakers is not in itself an official policy of the US government or a decision to take any action against India. The future course will depend on Rubio’s meetings and the official responses of both countries.
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