Some actions of Indian govt don’t align with democratic values: Top US official
WASHINGTON: India remains the world’s largest democracy with a strong rule of law but some of the Indian government’s actions, including restrictions on freedom of expression, have raised concerns that are inconsistent with the country’s democratic values, a top US official has told lawmakers.
Acting assistant secretary of state for south and central Asia Dean Thompson’s remarks came during a Congressional hearing on Democracy in the Indo-pacific on Wednesday at the House Foreign
Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia and Nonproliferation.
“India remains the world’s largest democracy with a strong rule of law and independent judiciary and enjoys a strong and growing strategic partnership with the United States,” Thompson said. “However, some of the Indian government’s actions have raised concerns that are inconsistent with India’s democratic values,” he said.
“This includes increasing restrictions on freedom of expression and the detention of human rights activists and journalists,” he added.
Thompson said the US regularly engages in and on these issues, including the important work of civil society. There was no immediate response from Indian officials to the development.
India has previously rejected criticism by foreign governments and human rights groups on allegations that civil liberties have eroded in the country. The government has maintained that India has well established democratic practices and robust institutions to safeguard the rights of all.