Jayapal, 75 lawmakers urge Biden to discuss human rights with Modi

Bicameral letter asks Biden to raise areas of concern in addition to the many areas of shared interests between India and the US

Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic state visit, 75 US lawmakers led by Indian American Representative Pramila Jayapal and Senator Chris Van Hollen urged President Joe Biden to discuss with him the need to protect human rights and democratic values in India.

“As the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy, the United States and India have forged a close relationship based on strategic interests and shared democratic values,” they wrote in a bicameral letter Tuesday.

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“India is an important member of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the ‘Quad’) and a crucial partner for stability in the Indo-Pacific,” the members noted.

“As longtime supporters of a strong US-India relationship, we also believe that friends can and should discuss their differences in an honest and forthright way,” they wrote.

“That is why we respectfully request that — in addition to the many areas of shared interests between India and the US — you also raise directly with Prime Minister Modi areas of concern,” the letter suggested.

“A series of independent, credible reports reflect troubling signs in India toward the shrinking of political space, the rise of religious intolerance, the targeting of civil society organizations and journalists, and growing restrictions on press freedoms and internet access,” the members wrote citing several official reports.

“Specifically, the State Department’s 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in India documents the tightening of political rights and expression,” the members noted.

“Similarly, the State Department’s 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom in India details the worrisome increase of religious intolerance toward minorities and religiously motived violence by both private and state actors.”

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“Further, the annual assessments compiled by Reporters Without Borders show that India, a country that has been known in the past for its vibrant and independent press, has fallen significantly in the rankings for press freedom,” the letter noted.

“And according to Access Now, India ranks first in terms of the most internet shutdowns for the fifth year in a row.”

The lawmakers said while they want a close and warm relationship between the people of the two countries, their friendship should be “built not only on our many shared interests but also on shared values.”

“We join you in welcoming Prime Minister Modi to the United States. We want a close and warm relationship between the people of the United States and the people of India,” they wrote.

“We want that friendship to be built not only on our many shared interests but also on shared values.”

“We do not endorse any particular Indian leader or political party — that is the decision of the people of India — but we do stand in support of the important principles that should be a core part of American foreign policy,” the letter stated.

“And we ask that, during your meeting with Prime Minister Modi, you discuss the full range of issues important to a successful, strong, and long-term relationship between our two great countries,” the lawmakers wrote.

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Jayapal And Van Hollen were joined in sending the letter by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) as well as Representatives Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Sean Casten (IL-06), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jason Crow (CO-06), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-16), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Al Green (TX-09), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Robin Kelly (IL-02), John B. Larson (CT-01), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Mike Levin (CA-49), Betty McCollum (MN-04), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Grace Meng (NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Elissa Slotkin (MI-07), Mark Takano (CA-39), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), David Trone (MD-06), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Susan Wild (PA-07), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).

The full text of the letter is available here.

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