WASAHINGTON: The US Congress must do its part to urge the Indian government to correct the course, and reconsider policies and laws, including counter-terrorism laws that are “inconsistent” with the obligations India has acquired through its ratification of key human rights treaties, an influential American lawmaker said Thursday.On April 19, multi-phase general elections will kick off in India to determine the country’s political direction for the next five years.Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third term, said Congressman James McGovern, Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, during a hearing on human rights in India.”I’m one of those people who think that friends should tell each other hard truths.And India is a friend, and it is truly important to the US that India prospers.Yet there is a real risk that the tensions inherent in diverse societies could harden into dangerous conflicts and undermine India’s bright future if human rights abuses are not addressed,” McGovern said.”The recent communal violence between ethnic Hindu and Christian communities in Manipur state is just but one example.Congress must do its part to urge the Indian government to correct course and reconsider policies and laws, including counter-terrorism laws that are inconsistent with the obligations India has acquired through its ratification of key human rights treaties,” he said.In his remarks, Congressman Chris Smith, Co-Chair of the committee said that India is a country of particular concern.”I would put an H in there, huge particular concern for their egregious behaviour. And Modi looks at what we do and say, they don’t care. That’s what the takeaway is by his government and by him personally. So I would encourage you to continue on,” he said.”…And geopolitical concerns are enhanced, I believe, and the ability for us to have credibility. When we name countries on CPC and exclude egregious violators like India, what does that say to the other countries that are on the list? They look at us as hypocrites, and that’s not good either,” Smith said.Carolyn Nash, Asia Advocacy Director, Amnesty International USA told lawmakers that the US government has recognised acts of transnational repression by the Government of India in Canada, which led to the assassination of an activist, as well as attempts here in the United States.”The scale of oppression facing human rights defenders, both in and out of India, limits the availability of information about human rights violations committed by the Indian government, information that should influence how the US and other governments engage the Modi administration and how the private sector makes choices about investment,” she alleged.”I can provide documentation of the government’s intensifying efforts to weaponise and codify into law intolerance and hate
Of particular concern are the expansion of the government’s abuse of vague and overbroad laws to shut down dissent, the increases in leaders’ use of hate speech and vilification of religious groups, and the recent rollout of the CAA and its discriminatory citizenship process, which could set the stage for millions to be deprived of citizenship,” Nash told the lawmakers.
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