Six US Democratic lawmakers, including prominent representatives Pramila Jayapal and Ilhan Omar, have urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to raise concerns with his Indian counterparts about the alleged excessive use of force during student protests in Delhi and other parts of India.
The letter to Rubio was also signed by representatives Jim McGovern, Rashida Tlaib, Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Jesus Garcia. It comes ahead of the Secretary's visit to India next week, where he is scheduled to meet with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Mumbai.
The lawmakers accuse Indian authorities of a heavy-handed response to demonstrations in support of the 'Cockroach Janata Party' (CJP). They also made the serious allegation that the Indian Embassy in Washington and its consulates in other American cities deployed photographers to conduct surveillance on protesters in the United States.
This accusation suggests an attempt to monitor and potentially intimidate individuals, including US citizens, for exercising their right to protest on American soil.
The congresspersons, known for their focus on human rights issues, are asking Rubio to press for answers regarding the treatment of protesters in India and the alleged surveillance activities aoad.
The letter, dated October 17, puts the issue of human rights and democratic freedoms squarely on the agenda for the high-level diplomatic engagement, potentially creating a point of friction in the typically friendly discussions between the two nations.
Source: Washington sources
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