After the US Secretary of State speaks about India’s human rights issues, Jaishankar reacted by saying India is also concerned about the US.
After the US Secretary of State’s comments on human rights in India in a unique direct denunciation by Washington of New Delhi in the middle of discussions over India’s stand on Russia’s Ukraine invasion, there were surprised reactions as the USA generally tries to keep a neutral air over India’s affairs. Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar rose up to sharply react.
After US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “We are monitoring some recent concerning developments in India, including a rise in human rights abuses by some government, police, and prison officials.” The US State Department, in its 2021 country report on Human Rights Practices published yesterday, had said that there were “credible reports” of human rights issues, including “extrajudicial killings by the government or its agents” in India.
Jaishankar retaliated by saying “Look, people are entitled to have views about us. But we are also equally entitled to have views about their views and about the interests, and the lobbies and the vote banks which drive that. So, whenever there is a discussion, I can tell you that we will not be reticent about speaking out,” at the press briefing, adding that the human rights issue was not a topic of discussion during the ministerial meeting.
Mr. Blinken was speaking with Mr. Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin by his side. While Mr Jaishankar did not respond to the remarks at the conference, he did so on Wednesday.
Jaishankar also said, “I would tell you that we also take our views on other people’s human rights situation, including that of the United States. So, we take up human rights issues when they arise in this country, especially when they pertain to our community. And in fact, we had a case yesterday…that’s really where we stand on that,” said the Foreign Minister.
This was in reference to two Sikh men assaulted on Tuesday in an alleged hate crime incident in Richmond Hills area of New York, US. The two – who were on an early morning walk – were attacked reportedly at the same location where a member of the community was attacked nearly 10 days ago.
There has been a rise in incidents of hate crimes against the Indian community in the US. These incidents have increased by “200% in recent years”, according to NY State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, the first Punjabi American ever elected to the New York State Office.
The Difference between the Human Rights Abuses in USA and India
Firstly, hate crimes against Indian Muslims and other minorities are in their own nation and not in a foreign land, who are not immigrants and this is far worse because immigrants and Indian Americans can run back to their nation, but where will ethnically Indian citizens such as Indian Muslims and Indian Christians go to if they are attacked? What is far worse is when their own government makes no efforts to protect them? These are seen in the rise of hate crimes against Muslims and Christians in India.
Secondly, Blinken was speaking about government involvement in extrajudicial killings by the government, its police force, or its agents” in India and not about miscreants on the road attacking citizens, which is a big difference. American citizens know the power of their first and second amendment (the freedom to believe and express different ideas—in a variety of ways and exercise their religion as well as to be free from government coercion to support religion.
The Second Amendment links the right to bear arms and “the security of a free state.” Without access to guns for a militia, Americans believed they were vulnerable to oppression). Americans feel empowered with their amendments and even an Indian American knows they can rush to the law be given justice, the system is so strong; however, in India, the system favors the rich, powerful, and most times, the majoritarian is favored above the minoritarian.