US' human rights remark driven by lobbies, vote banks, suggests India

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar seemed to suggest on Wednesday that the US’ remark on human rights violations by Indian government officials and police were driven by vote banks and lobbies.

Jaishankar noted that the issue about human rights violations were not part of the discussions between India and the US during the current 2+2 ministerial meeting this week, but clarified that New Delhi will not be reticent about speaking out whenever there is discussion.

“On the human rights issue; no, we did not discuss human rights during this meeting. This meeting was primarily focused on political-military affairs,” Jaishankar told reporters as he concluded his 2+2 ministerial meet to the US with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

At a joint news conference on Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said that the US is monitoring some recent “concerning developments” in India, including a rise in human rights abuses by some government, police, and prison officials.

The joint news conference after the 2+2 dialogue was addressed by Blinken, Jaishankar, Singh and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Responding to a question, Jaishankar said while the issue of human rights was not discussed during the current meeting, it has come up in the past.

“It is a subject which has come up in the past. It came up when Secretary Blinken came to India. I think if you recall the press briefings after that, I was very open about the fact that we had discussed it and said what I had to say,” he said.

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“So let me put it to you this way so that there’s clarity about where we stand on this matter,” he added. “Look, people are entitled to have views about us. But we are also equally entitled to have views about their views and about the interests, and the lobbies and the vote banks which drive that. So, whenever there is a discussion, I can tell you that we will not be reticent about speaking out.”

“I would tell you that we also take our views on other people’s human rights situation, including that of the United States. So, we take up a human rights issues when they arise in this country, especially when they pertain to our community. And in fact, we had a case yesterday…that’s really where we stand on that,” he said.

Back in India, NCP leader Majeed Memon felt that Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh should have “negated” the US’ secretary of state’s remark earlier itself.

“If certain statements or allegations are made against our country to the extent that there is gross violation of human rights by officials, etc, at least the two learned ministers should have negated that. At least they should have said that this news is exaggerated, this news is incorrect. But both the ministers chose to keep mum. What message has gone to the world?” Memon asked.

(With agency inputs)