India ready to talk human rights issues with Blinken

AS A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY, INDIA IS OPEN TO ENGAGING WITH THOSE WHO RECOGNISE VALUE OF DIVERSITY, OFFICIALS SAY

NEW DELHI: India has signalled that it is open to engaging on human rights and democracy with those who recognise the value of diversity in the backdrop of reports that US secretary of state Antony Blinken will raise these issues during his visit to New Delhi this week.

People familiar with the planning for Blinken’s visit, scheduled for July 27 and 28, said on Sunday that India, as a longstanding pluralistic society, is open to engaging with those who recognise the value of diversity.

“Issues such as human rights and democracy are universal and extend beyond a particular national or cultural perspective. India is proud of its achievements in both domains and is always glad to share experiences,” one of the people cited above said.

The US acting assistant secretary for South and Central Asian affairs, Dean Thompson, said last week that both human rights and democracy would be raised during his engagements in India.

The Indian side will also raise global issues such as political and cultural rebalancing, especially New Delhi’s support for a multi-polar, democratic and diverse world order.

Discussions during Blinken’s visit will also cover working together at the United Nations, especially with India holding the presidency of the Security Council in August.