Criticism and controversy as US rolls out red carpet for India’s Modi

HOUSTON, United States (AA): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US has sparked a mix of celebration and controversy, as Washington seeks to navigate its relationship with a significant global power and the most populous country in the world.

Both Democrats and Republicans have rolled out the red carpet for Modi, a person who was denied a visa for “severe violations of religious freedom” back when he was chief minister of the state of Gujarat.

Critics view the warm welcome as proof of the US government’s willingness to overlook what they call Modi’s right-wing nationalist agenda for a vital relationship to counter China and Russia’s influence in a strategically important region.

Modi’s actions back home have been facing increasing criticism, with rights groups accusing his government of human rights violations and persecution of religious minorities including Muslims, Sikhs and Christians.

Even the US’ own 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom – released just a month before Modi’s trip – said India had “numerous reports during the year of violence by law enforcement authorities against members of religious minorities in multiple states.”

It cited instances involving Christians, Muslims and Dalits, the people at the very lowest rung of India’s caste pyramid, and also criticized the anti-conversion laws enforced in 13 Indian states.

The Indian Foreign Ministry rejected the report, saying it was “based on misinformation and flawed understanding.”

Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University in Houston, said Modi “is a flashpoint and … over the past few years he has aggressively fomented Hindu nationalism to bolster his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).”

“His rise to power and his continued hold on power has come with the discrimination and oppression of Muslim minorities,” Jones told Anadolu.

He said the US maintains diplomatic ties with countries that have far worse human rights records, citing China, Saudi Arabia and Qatar as examples.

“India is increasingly playing an important role in the world, from the confrontation with China over global issues related to Taiwan, to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” said Jones.

“Because of the US’ strained relations with both China and Russia, it is important for the US to have good relations with India, or at least have an equidistant relationship with India in comparison to both China and Russia.

“The US can’t afford to alienate India or to push India into a better relationship with either Russia or China,” said Jones.

“In the short term, if you push India away, then they will be more likely to not support sanctions against either country.”

‘Rapid deterioration of human rights’

However, these political reasons for the US hosting Modi are not sitting well with human rights organizations.

“While the red carpet has been rolled out for Prime Minister Modi, people in India continue to experience grave human rights abuses,” Amanda Klasing, national director of government relations and advocacy at Amnesty International USA, said in a statement to Anadolu.

She said Modi has “presided over a period of rapid deterioration of human rights protections in India, including increasing violence against religious minorities, shrinking civil society space, and the criminalization of dissent.”

“These human rights concerns are not fringe issues. They are fundamental in determining how a government operates, who it serves, and who it leaves out,” said Klasing.

For the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest Muslim advocacy group in the US, Modi’s visit comes with extreme concerns.

“There are literally lynchings, beatings and physical abuses of Muslims by BJP supporters. These are very hateful incidents that are going unchecked,” said Hussam Ayloush, who heads the group’s California chapter.

“The danger is that these incidents are rising and there is a pattern that is being protected and even fueled by government agencies in India, whether it’s the police or members of parliament.”

He also cited the recent US report that “raised concerns about the deterioration of human rights and democracy in India.”

“But it seems our government has chosen to sacrifice its stance on human rights to the detriment of our long-term interest,” he told Anadolu.

‘Putting dollars over human rights’

“Unfortunately, it’s about putting dollars over human rights,” said Ayloush.

“Trade with India is deemed too important by our government and elected officials, as well as using India as a way to pressure, or balance, our relationship with China and Russia, since India is a main rival to China in that region and also has an economic relationship with Russia.”

Modi’s visit to the US exposes the hypocrisy of some elected officials, he added.

“It doesn’t help when our own government sends a message that we prefer to partner with the Modi government despite what we know about its human rights practices and abuses,” said Ayloush.