US Lawmakers Urge Secretary of State to Address Delhi Detentions in India

Six US lawmakers, including Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, wrote a letter to secretary of state Marco Rubio on Friday ahead of his scheduled visit to India. The group expressed concerns regarding a pattern of repression, wrongful detention, and excessive use of force by security forces during student protests. They urged Rubio to press the Indian government to launch independent, thorough, and transparent investigations into these matters, and to seek the release of individuals detained unlawfully for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

In addition to the protest detentions, the letter signed by Jayapal, James P McGovern, Jesus G "Chuy" Garcia, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib flagged incidents of apparent surveillance and intimidation on United States soil. They alleged these actions were carried out by individuals employed by or coordinating with the Indian Embassy and consulates against individuals exercising their fundamental rights. The lawmakers also questioned the transparency of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in India.

This development follows New Delhi's rejection of earlier remarks made by Jayapal on social media concerning the removal of 130 million names from India's draft electoral rolls. The ministry of external affairs labeled her comments unwarranted and an interference in the electoral practices of a fellow democracy. During his bi-weekly briefing, ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the approach undermines democracy itself. Jayapal's initial remarks coincided with protests by young people and Opposition parties in India over alleged irregularities in the voter list revision process.