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US Congress Interferes and asks Indian Govt. to follow Basic Norms of being a Democratic Nation

For maybe the first occasion since the farmers' conflict started close to the end last year, senior members of the US Congress in the Indian Delegation have called on the Indian authorities to secure that democratic standards are upheld and that demonstrators are permitted to peacefully demonstrate with access to the Internet.

Updated on: 9 February, 2021 3:47 PM IST By: Chintu Das
Farmers' Protest

For the first time since the farmers' conflict started close to the end last year, senior members of the US Congress in the Indian Delegation have called on the Indian authorities to secure that democratic standards are upheld and that demonstrators are permitted to peacefully demonstrate with access to the Internet. 

Co-Chair of Congressional India Caucus, U.S. Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman, said he had called a meeting with Steve Chabot, Republican Co-Chair, Congressman and Ro Khanna, Deputy Congressman to talk with Indian Ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu about farmers' protests in India. This would be the first meeting of the India Caucus, the biggest country-specific caucus in the US House of Representatives, on the subject. 

"I asked the Indian government to ensure that the standards of democracy are kept up and that demonstrators are permitted to demonstrate freely and have access to the Internet, as well as journalists. All companions of India trust that the associated parties can come to an understanding," Sherman said.

Sandhu tweeted, "Through talks on a number of topics under the command of the House Caucus on India and Indian Americans for the 117th Congress. Excited to work together with them to additionally fortify India-US relations." 

On web limitations at the dissent destinations, the US authorities had said on February 4th that it perceives that "unhindered admittance to information, including the Internet, is essential to the freedom of expression and a sign of a flourishing democracy system". 

Washington's comments about web limitations isn't new to India. The past organization under Trump had raised the issue of web closures with regards to Jammu and Kashmir after the denial of Article 370. 

While Sandhu has met numerous US Congressmen and women over the most recent couple of months, this is his first meeting with a gathering of Congress members on the farmers’ dissents. Prior, US Congressman Steve Cohen had said that India is the biggest democracy government on the planet and free speech is probably the best hallmark of democracy system. 

"I'm intently watching the #FarmersProtests with apprehension about likely assaults on ability to speak freely including internet service cuts and state-supported aggression," he tweeted. 

One more Congressman, Eric Swalwell of the Democratic Party, had tweeted, "The USA and India were worked by little farmers, diversification, and democracy government. We can't wander from our shared qualities. India should focus on harmony, work out with little farmers, reestablish web access, and reject segregation."  

Prior, the Ministry of External Affairs had, in an explanation gave on February 3 hammering "superstars and others" for their remarks on the side of rancher fights, said that any fights should be found with regards to India's popularity based ethos and nation, and the continuous endeavors of the public authority and the rancher bunches worried to determine the stalemate. 

On web access, the assertion said, "The transitory measures with respect to web access in specific parts of the NCR region have been understandably attempted to forestall further aggression." 

In December 2019, Democratic Congressmen and women had been incredulous of India's positions on J&K and the CAA-NRC. That had prompted a bizarre advance that had caused a commotion in Washington, when Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar dropped his planned meeting in December a year ago with the persuasive Congressional committee on foreign affairs since it had Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who submitted the settlement asking India with lift all limitations forced in J&K in the wake of repudiating Article 370. This had incited Kamala Harris, who is presently Vice President, to likewise uphold Jayapal. 

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