US Lawmakers Call on India to Be Held Accountable for Crackdown on CJP Protests
Six Democratic lawmakers in the United States have expressed anger at India over police use of excessive force in suppressing student protests and alleged surveillance of CJP supporters based in the United States. They have called on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to raise the matter in his meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during his upcoming visit to India.
They have also demanded an impartial investigation into the eligibility of India to receive US arms sales and into human rights violations in the country. Democratic lawmakers Pramila Jayapal, Ilhan Omar, Jim McGovern, Rashida Tlaib, Eleanor Holmes Norton and Jesús García sent the letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio the day before yesterday.
The letter alleges that excessive force and unjust detentions occurred during the suppression of the student movement in Delhi, and that Indian embassies and consulates in Washington and other US cities photographed and surveilled supporters who were protesting in support of the “Cockroach Janata Party” (CJP).
The letter also raises concern over the removal of nearly 130 million voters in the name of India’s draft electoral roll revision (SIR).
Criticising the remarks directed against India, Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra described Pramila Jayapal’s statement as “unacceptable interference in India’s internal affairs”.
Meanwhile, Democratic leader and former White House adviser Ajay Jain Bhutoria criticised the lawmakers’ letter, saying, “India is the world’s largest democracy. The US Congress should solve its own country’s problems instead of lecturing other countries.”
Ahead of Rubio’s visit to India next week, the lawmakers demanded that India conduct an impartial investigation into the crackdown on peaceful protesters and release those who have been unlawfully detained. They also called for a reassessment of arms sales to India under the Arms Export Control Act, after verifying whether India has made any threats against, or conducted any surveillance of, people on US soil.
