US Democrats urge Rubio to press India over protest crackdown

Six US Democratic lawmakers have called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss alleged police excesses during student protests in India and investigate claims of surveillance targeting demonstrators by Indian diplomatic missions in the United States.

In a letter sent on Friday, the lawmakers, including Pramila Jayapal, Ilhan Omar, Jim McGovern, Rashida Tlaib, Eleanor Holmes Norton and Jesus Garcia, cited demonstrations linked to the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.

They alleged that security personnel used excessive force against protesters and raised concerns about photographers reportedly monitoring CJP supporters at demonstrations in American cities.

The lawmakers urged Rubio to press New Delhi for independent investigations into alleged human rights violations and seek the release of people detained unlawfully for peaceful demonstrations. They also called for a US investigation into alleged intimidation by Indian diplomatic missions and an assessment of whether such conduct could affect India’s eligibility for American arms sales.

Rubio is scheduled to visit India next week and meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Mumbai.

Jayapal also criticised India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, raising concerns about the potential exclusion of millions of voters. India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, previously rejected her remarks as interference in India’s domestic affairs.

Former Biden administration adviser Ajay Jain Bhutoria also criticised the lawmakers’ intervention, arguing that India’s internal matters should be addressed through its own democratic institutions.