News Desk: Six US lawmakers have written to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging him to raise concerns over the detention of protesters in Delhi and alleged excessive use of force by security personnel during student protests in India.
The letter, signed by Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and five other lawmakers, was sent ahead of Rubio’s scheduled visit to India. The lawmakers called for thorough, transparent and independent investigations into alleged human rights violations linked to the handling of protests.
Besides Jayapal, the letter was signed by James P. McGovern, Jesús G. “Chuy” García, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib. They urged Rubio to discuss the concerns with his Indian counterparts during his visit.
The lawmakers also raised allegations of surveillance and intimidation involving individuals exercising their fundamental rights on US soil. They claimed that some incidents involved individuals allegedly working for, or coordinating with, the Indian Embassy and consulates.
The letter further called for the release of people detained in violation of Indian or international law for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
### Dispute Over Electoral Roll Revision
The development comes amid a diplomatic disagreement over India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
On Wednesday, Jayapal expressed concern over reports that around 13 crore names had been removed from India’s draft electoral rolls. She alleged that the exercise raised questions about voting rights and compared it with developments in the United States.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs rejected her remarks, describing them as unwarranted and uninformed. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the comments amounted to interference in the electoral practices of a fellow democracy.
He also argued that such an approach undermined democracy itself.
The controversy comes as student groups and opposition parties in India have protested against alleged irregularities in the electoral roll revision process. The exercise has drawn scrutiny over the removal of names and concerns about transparency.
The latest letter adds another dimension to the issue, bringing the concerns raised by US lawmakers into the diplomatic arena.
With Rubio’s proposed visit approaching, the lawmakers have called for the allegations surrounding protest-related detentions and electoral roll revisions to be addressed. However, the letter represents the lawmakers’ concerns and allegations; it does not establish that the alleged violations have been independently proven.
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