Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Ankita Rao in Washington

As Modi visits, Indian American lawmakers face balancing act

Left: Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister. Right: Pramila Jayapal, who circulated a letter urging Biden to acknowledge the erosion of human rights and democracy in India.
Left: Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister. Right: Pramila Jayapal, who circulated a letter urging Biden to acknowledge the erosion of human rights and democracy in India. Photograph: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images; Nathan Posner/Shutterstock

Ahead of Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington this week, Pramila Jayapal – a progressive Democratic congresswoman – circulated a letter signed by dozens of congressional lawmakers calling for Joe Biden to acknowledge the erosion of human rights and democracy during the Indian prime minister’s nine years in power.

“A series of independent, credible reports reflect troubling signs in India toward 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,” it warned.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.