WASHINGTON: Observing that the two years of Narendra Modi-led Indian government have resulted in deterioration in human rights and religious freedom in India, the US-based human rights activists have called for making the issue as part of America’s regular dialogue with India.
The Asia Advocacy Director of Human Rights Watch, John Sifton during a hearing on “Challenges & Opportunities: The Advancement of Human Rights in India” said, “Progress on human rights in India will continue to falter unless the Modi administration takes better steps to ensure justice and accountability for all citizens, protect vulnerable communities and protect the free exchange of ideas and dissent.” The hearing was organised by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
He said, the government officials are not held accountable and impunity persists for police and other personnel who are shielded by laws from being prosecuted for serious human rights abuses.
“We urge members of Congress to press the US to prioritize these vital issues with India’s government, and to raise them directly in interactions with the Indian government, in the months and years ahead,” Sifton said during the hearing, held soon after Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, met the US President, Barack Obama, at the White House.
The President of International Christian Concern, Jeff King, said the silence of Narendra Modi and government authorities on these crimes is deafening.
“I believe the Strategic and Commercial Dialogue should go beyond security, defence, economic cooperation etc, to enable both nations to build on their shared values of democracy, freedom of religion and the rule of law,” said Musaddique Thange from the Indian American Muslim Council.
Through this dialogue, the US must impress upon Indian officials the need to strengthen protection for religious minorities, to uphold freedom of religion by ensuring justice is done in cases of religious violence, and to enact laws that protect whistleblowers and activists from official retribution, he said.
Martina E Vandenberg, President of Human Trafficking Pro Bono Legal Centre, demanded that in light of New Delhi’s failure to take decisive steps to combat human trafficking, India be ranked as Tier 3 in the 2016 Trafficking in Persons Report. NNI