The United States and India are engaged in regular discussions at the highest levels on matters of human rights and democracy, following a report by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor that highlighted “significant human rights issues” in India, including the violence in Manipur last year. A senior US State Department official emphasized the ongoing dialogue between the two nations during a press briefing.
Robert S. Gilchrist, a high-ranking official from the US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, addressed reporters after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken released the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. He stated that the US and India consistently engage in high-level consultations on democracy and human rights. The report noted various concerns such as extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and incidents of police violence, drawing significant attention from both national and international observers.
The recently released “2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: India” underlined several troubling developments, including the conviction and imprisonment of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by a Gujarat court, as well as Income Tax raids on the Mumbai and Delhi offices of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The raids occurred shortly after a BBC documentary suggested that Prime Minister Modi, during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, may have played a role in the 2002 riots that led to the death of over 2,000 people, predominantly Muslims. The report also noted the government’s use of emergency powers to ban the screening of the documentary and the detention of students who organized viewing parties.
Gilchrist urged the Indian government to uphold its human rights commitments and emphasized the importance of regular engagement with civil society organizations. He noted that the US regularly meets with representatives from various groups, both in the US and India, to gather diverse perspectives that contribute to the Human Rights Report. Despite these engagements, the report highlighted that many human rights groups in India face restrictions and limited cooperation from government officials.
In response to concerns raised by human rights groups and international observers, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asserted that the Indian people, not the United Nations, ensure that the country’s elections are free and fair. This response came after the UN expressed hope that elections in India would be conducted in a manner that protects political and civil rights.
The report also mentioned political tensions and the use of disinformation tactics against opposition parties and religious minorities, indicating ongoing challenges to democracy and freedom of expression in India. Despite these issues, the US continues to engage in dialogue with India, aiming to address human rights concerns while strengthening diplomatic relations.
