The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the US Congress has expressed deep concern over the human rights violations in India and recommended to declare it as a ‘Country of Special Concern’.
On Thursday (March 21), representatives of Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the American Commission for International Religious Freedom and other human rights organizations reported serious violations of human rights, religious intolerance, persecution of minorities in India. , media and internet ban, sex trade and other serious violations related to human rights.
The commission was told that Muslims and minorities are treated as second-class citizens in India and that laws against minorities are misused along with torture against Muslims.
The Tom Lantos Commission recommended that India be designated as a ‘Country of Special Concern’ for human rights violations.
Jim McGovern, a member of the House of Representatives who presided over the commission, said in his opening remarks that the cause of most of the problems is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attempt to transform India from secular democracy to Hinduism.
He further said that India’s future will be in jeopardy if the issues regarding human rights violations are not resolved.
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Congressman Christopher Smith told the commission that a recent report by International Religious Freedom stated that 13 states in India have banned religious conversion, which is a violation of basic human rights.
Another member, Chris Smith, said several reports highlighted violence against religious minorities by law enforcement agencies. It is clear from the reports that the Muslim and Christian communities in India are the most affected.
Stephen Schneck of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) talks about how Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government encourages violence against minorities.
He also referred to the Citizenship Amendment Act, anti-conversion laws and groups monitoring cow slaughter.
He also referred to India’s violence outside the country, including the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nagar and attempts to kill American citizen Grupatunt Singh Pinan.
Stephen Schneck urged state departments to designate India as a country of particular concern. He said that the reluctance of the US administration to do so is surprising.
He also recommended that Congress should advocate for the workers and people listed on the USCIRF victim list.
Other witnesses included Amnesty International’s Caroline Nash, Human Rights Watch’s John Sefton, American Bar Association’s Waris Hussain, Freedom House’s Adrian Shehbaz, and Global Christian Relief’s Isaac Six.
The witnesses spoke about human rights issues in India and questioned the use of laws as a weapon against the ruling party to suppress dissent.
John Sefton, focusing on India’s National Registry of Citizens and the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act, expressed concern that the burden of proof had been shifted to citizens and that people were now responsible for proving that they Citizens of India.
Waris Hussain said on the occasion that ‘India is misusing funds received for counter-terrorism’ and is using it ‘to target human rights activists.’
Isaac Six noted that when he was called to testify in 2016, he needed security because of threats he received from pro-India groups.
American Congressman Ilhan Omar expressed concern over the treatment of Muslims and Christians in India and the situation in Punjab as well as the situation of Sikhs.
He supported the resolution to declare India as a country of concern regarding human rights and said that I think we should do this as soon as possible.
At the end of the hearing she added: ‘I hope that more people will be inspired to do justice and speak morally and rightly.’
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2024-05-05 12:38:42
