JUNE 24, 2023

During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United States on June 20th, 2023, 75 congressmen wrote a letter to President Biden regarding their concerns about India’s human rights record and its treatment of minorities, particularly the Muslim population.

The Letter’s Contents

The letter, a copy of which was obtained by our sources, expressed their disappointment that the Indian government had not taken steps to address these concerns and called on the United States to take action.

“We urge you to use this visit as an opportunity to raise these issues with Prime Minister Modi and to reinforce the importance of human rights and minority protections in any bilateral relationship between our two countries,” the letter read.

The congressmen also highlighted recent instances of religious violence in India, including the forced eviction of Muslims from their homes in the state of Assam and the violent attacks on Christians in Orissa.

The Congressmen’s Concerns

“We believe that as leaders of the world’s largest democracies, our countries have a responsibility to uphold the highest standards of human rights and to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their religion or ethnicity, are treated with dignity and respect,” the letter continued.

The congressmen stressed the need to support efforts to hold India accountable for human rights violations and to promote greater protections for minority populations.

Implications and Conclusions

It remains to be seen how the United States will respond to this letter and the concerns raised by these congressmen. However, this letter serves as a reminder of the importance of human rights and the need for continued advocacy to ensure these rights are protected for all individuals. As leaders of the world’s largest democracies, the United States and India have a responsibility to set high standards for human rights and to hold each other accountable for any violations that occur.