Human rights have been a cornerstone of the United States (US) foreign policy. The US is the guarantor of the liberal world order that is based on the principles of democracy and human rights. It is the responsibility of the US to reinstate the core values of human dignity and equality anywhere in the world. However, when it comes to India, the bi-partisan approach has been spearheading the bilateral ties between both states. India is speedily losing the foundational values of democracy; sliding into being an electoral autocracy.
Under Narendra Modi’s regime, identity-based politics is causing increased polarization in the Indian pluralistic and secular society. His hyper-nationalist policies have already given rise to a conflicting situation within the Indian social fabric. Implemented at the domestic and state level, the laws and policies are driven by Hindu nationalism which poses a severe challenge to freedom of religion or belief and related rights.
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Understanding the matter better
Moreover, the abrogation of Kashmir’s special status 2019, Citizenship Amendment Act 2019, religious-based discrimination particularly against Muslims, illegal detentions, prohibiting interfaith marriages, curbing freedom of speech and cracking down on various non-governmental organizations including Amnesty International from operating, are some of the few policies which have eroded the essence of human rights in the self-proclaimed world’s largest democracy.
The policies enforced by Modi’s regime are an assault on the secular principles of the Indian constitution. It is a sheer violation of Article 15 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, and Article 25 of the Indian constitution which calls for freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion. The state-level systematic violations and increasing repression of religious freedom has led to a growing climate of hostility within Indian society.
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a joint press briefing with the US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, stated that the US is ‘monitoring some recent concerning developments in India’. His statement came amidst a rising tide of polarization in India, where minorities especially Muslims are persecuted. The statement by the US Secretary of State came hand in hand with the US Department of State’s 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: India.
The report stated that there are credible and significant reports of human rights violations. It is not the first incident that the US raised concerns regarding the human rights abuses in India. In 2021, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom called for designating India as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC – for engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).”
Similarly, the Human Rights Watch in its World Report 2021, stated that the “BJP-led government and the ruling party members continued their smear campaign against human rights defenders, frequently describing them as “Soros agents” or “national security risks” in government-friendly media.” So, the incidents of harassment, religious-based human rights abuses, and persecution of human rights activists, journalists, and students in India are frequently being highlighted. However, the lax accountability of the perpetrators has led the members of the ruling party to impose harsh and discriminatory restrictions on Muslims. The attacks have continued against minorities, especially Muslims, while the world watches apathetically.
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Politically, it is no secret that the US-India strategic partnership has interests that serve both countries. It is clearly stipulated on the website of the US Department of State which says “The US-India partnership is founded on a shared commitment to freedom, democratic principles, equal treatment of all citizens, human rights, and the rule of law”. It also states that “the US supports India’s emergence as a leading global power and vital partner in efforts to ensure that the Indo-Pacific is a region of peace, stability, and growing prosperity.” These statements indicate the geopolitical interests of both the states converge to contain China.
The US cannot afford to lose its net security provider in the region
For the same reason, recently, India also got away with a waiver under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), after its acquisition of the S-400 Air Defence System. On the economic front, the US has surpassed China as India’s top trading partner in the fiscal year 2021-22, which highlights the strengthened economic ties between the two countries. According to the Ministry of Commerce, in 2021-22, the bilateral trade between the US and India stood at $119.42 billion.
Moreover, during the recent QUAD leaders’ summit in Tokyo, India formalized its entry into the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), to strengthen economic cooperation to counter China’s rise in the region. So, given the US-India bandwagoning for the colossal political and economic gains, mere concerns about India’s human rights abuses are meaningless.
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Such reports and statements have been a part of the political discourse each year. However, long-term interests are seldomly compromised. Due to political biases, the convergence of economic interests and its policy to contain China, the US seems to be far away from holding India accountable for its mounting human rights violations. The world is yet to see how the world’s human rights champion, holds India responsible for violating the principles of the liberal world order.
The writer is a researcher at Strategic Vision Institute (SVI), Islamabad. She tweets @ZukhrufAmin. The views expressed by the writers do not necessarily represent Global Village Space’s editorial policy