WASHINGTON, October 17 (ANI) — Despite India’s objections to U.S. lawmakers’ comments on protests concerning the Election Commission, American representatives have continued to weigh in on the issue, which New Delhi considers an internal matter.
U.S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Congressman James P. McGovern have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss what they describe as the “rights to freedom of assembly and expression” with Indian officials during his upcoming engagements. They also acknowledged steps taken by the Indian government to address student grievances following examination-related concerns.
In a post on X on Friday, Jayapal wrote, “As the world’s largest democracies, the U.S. and India have an obligation to promote and defend the rights to freedom of assembly and expression.”
“@RepMcGovern and I are urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to prioritize those freedoms and human rights when he meets with Indian officials in the coming days,” she added.
In a letter dated October 16, the lawmakers outlined issues they want Rubio to discuss with his Indian counterparts, including student protests following the leak and cancellation of the national medical college entrance examination and demonstrations related to the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The letter, signed by six members of Congress — Jayapal, McGovern, Rashida Tlaib, Chuy Garcia, Eleanor Holmes Norton and Ilhan Omar — highlighted the role of democratic principles in India-U.S. relations.
“As the world’s largest democracies and state parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the U.S. and India have an obligation to promote and defend the rights to freedom of assembly and expression,” the letter stated.
The lawmakers referred to concerns raised by U.N. human rights experts about the transparency of the voter roll revision process and its potential implications for electoral participation. They also cited reports of protest-related detentions and law enforcement responses to demonstrations.
Acknowledging measures taken to address student grievances, the lawmakers noted the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following concerns over examination-related issues.
“We note that the Indian government has taken some steps to address the grievances of students impacted by exam leaks, with the notable inclusion of Education Minister Pradhan’s resignation,” the letter stated.
Separately, the lawmakers referred to reports that individuals associated with Indian diplomatic missions had photographed participants at demonstrations in Washington, Chicago and San Francisco. They called for the reports to be investigated.
Among their recommendations, the lawmakers urged the U.S. administration to encourage transparent investigations into alleged violations linked to law enforcement actions during protests, review detentions involving the exercise of fundamental freedoms and examine reports concerning demonstrations in the United States.
“The free exercise of fundamental freedoms and the right to vote is core to the democratic identities of both the United States and India,” the letter stated.
They urged Rubio to raise these issues during his meetings with Indian officials, emphasizing the role of democratic values and fundamental freedoms in relations between the two countries.
The development comes after India strongly rejected Jayapal’s remarks about the country’s electoral process on Friday, describing them as “unwarranted” and “uninformed” and as interference in the electoral practices of another democracy.
Responding to a question during a regular media briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We find the remarks of the Congresswoman unwarranted and uninformed and tantamount to interfering in the electoral practices of a fellow democracy. This is an approach that undermines democracy itself.”
Earlier Thursday, India’s Ambassador to the U.S., Vinay Mohan Kwatra, dismissed Jayapal’s allegations concerning a voter purge.
Describing her remarks as “unacceptable interference in India’s internal affairs,” Kwatra wrote on X, “The remarks by Rep. Jayapal on India’s electoral and political processes are unacceptable interference in India’s internal affairs.”
He added, “India is a vibrant democracy with robust, independent constitutional institutions and a longstanding record of free and fair elections. Always open to constructive conversation with the Congresswoman to dispel her misconceptions.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Mumbai and Jamnagar as part of his trip to India in October. Meetings with senior Indian government officials are planned to strengthen the bilateral strategic partnership and explore expanded energy cooperation. Rubio is scheduled to visit India and Uzbekistan between October 17 and 22.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India has been conducting a nationwide Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in multiple phases. The Commission said lists identifying absent, relocated, deceased and duplicate voters had been publicly displayed and shared with political parties. It also said individuals whose names had been deleted could apply for enrollment at any time. (ANI)
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