US lawmakers urge Rubio to raise Delhi protest detentions with India during visit

Six members of the US Congress, including Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to raise concerns with the Indian government over the alleged use of excessive force, wrongful detentions and intimidation during student protests.

In a letter sent on Friday ahead of Rubio’s scheduled visit to India, the lawmakers called for thorough, transparent and independent investigations into what they described as a “pattern of repression, wrongful detention, and excessive use of force by security forces during student protests”.

They also called for the release of individuals allegedly detained in violation of Indian or international law for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

The letter was signed by Jayapal, James P McGovern, Jesus G “Chuy” Garcia, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib. The lawmakers urged Rubio to discuss their concerns with his Indian counterparts during his visit.

Lawmakers flag alleged surveillance and electoral roll revision

Beyond the handling of student protests, the lawmakers raised concerns over what they described as incidents of surveillance and intimidation on US soil targeting individuals exercising their fundamental rights.

They alleged that some of these incidents involved individuals employed by, or acting in coordination with, the Indian Embassy and consulates in the United States.

The letter also questioned India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the process lacked transparency.

The lawmakers called on Rubio to press the Indian government to investigate alleged human rights violations linked to law enforcement’s response to protests. They also sought accountability for those responsible for any unlawful detention or excessive use of force.

Their appeal comes amid renewed attention in Washington to India’s handling of protests, civil liberties and electoral processes.

India had rejected Jayapal’s earlier remarks

The letter follows New Delhi’s rejection of Jayapal’s earlier comments on India’s revision of electoral rolls. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described her remarks as unwarranted and said they amounted to interference in the “electoral practices of a fellow democracy”.

The latest intervention by the US lawmakers adds to the diplomatic exchanges between Washington and New Delhi over electoral processes, civil liberties and the treatment of protesters. The lawmakers have called for the concerns raised in their letter to be addressed through investigations and discussions between the two governments.