Asking President Joe Biden to strengthen India-America ties but in addition discuss to Prime Minister Narendra Modi throughout his state go to about India’s latest democratic document, 75 United States (US) Senators and Congressional representatives of the Democratic Party have written a letter to Biden outlining their areas of concern.

They have, citing studies of the US State Department and civil society outfits, requested the President to boost particular problems with “the shrinking of political space, the rise of religious intolerance, the targeting of civil society organizations and journalists, and growing restrictions on press freedoms and internet access” in India.

Even as they underscored their help for strategic, financial, industrial, defence, and people-to-people ties with India, the legislators famous that associates ought to communicate in an sincere and forthright approach. “That is why we respectfully request that — in addition to the many areas of shared interests between India and the U.S. — you also raise directly with Prime Minister Modi areas of concern.”

The authorities of India has persistently rejected criticism of its human rights document, and within the context of the US, blamed it on “votebank politics” and pretend info primarily based on inputs by actors with doubtful hyperlinks.

The letter was launched on Tuesday afternoon Eastern time, 48 hours earlier than Modi was scheduled to deal with a joint assembly of the US Congress for the second time, a uncommon honour.

Senators Chris van Hollen (who attended a non-public dinner for Congress chief Rahul Gandhi earlier this month and has been a critic of India’s present political trajectory) and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (the Indian-origin chief of the Congressional progressive caucus) led the initiative.

Eighteen Senators, together with Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Tim Kaine, and 57 members of the House of Representatives have signed the letter. For perspective, the full power of each chambers is 535 seats, and the letter signatories quantity to 14% of the US legislature. Jayapal is the one Indian-American of the 5 representatives who hint their roots to India who has signed the letter.

Beginning the letter on a constructive notice, the legislators notice that each democracies have cast a bond primarily based on strategic pursuits and shared values. The letter refers to India as a “crucial partner for stability” within the Indo-Pacific, expresses help for bilateral industrial defence cooperation, hails financial ties, and praises the diaspora.

“We trust and expect that these important dimensions of the U.S.-India partnership — strategic, economic and cultural — will be part of your discussion when you meet directly with Prime Minister Modi.”

Based on studies revealed by the US State Department’s workplace of worldwide non secular freedom, State’s nation report on human rights practices, Reporters with out Borders, and Access Now, the signatories declare that there was “tightening of political rights and expression…worrisome increase of religious intolerance towards minorities and religiously motivated violence by private and state actors”.

The signatories instructed Biden that he had as soon as once more made “respect for human rights, press freedom, religious freedom, and pluralism core tenets of American foreign policy” and these have to be utilized to “friend and foe alike”. They mentioned that each US and India had enshrined free speech, freedom of the press, and spiritual freedom of their respective Constitutions and shared a particular bond via ethical leaders equivalent to Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.

Clarifying once more that they welcomed Modi, and sought a better and hotter relationship between the individuals of each international locations primarily based on pursuits and values, the signatories mentioned, “We do not endorse any particular Indian leader or political party — that is the decision of the people of India — but we do stand in support of the important principles that should be a core part of American foreign policy. And we ask that, during your meeting with Prime Minister Modi, you discuss the full range of issues important to a successful, strong, and long-term relationship between our two great countries.”

Separately, Rashida Tlaib, a Congresswoman from Michigan who has usually been vital of Modi, introduced that she would boycott his handle to the joint assembly of the US Congress on Thursday. She accused Modi of a “long history of human rights abuses, anti-democratic actions, targeting Muslims & religious minorities, and censoring journalists”.