Blinken issues veiled warning to India on human rights

AMERICA’S most senior diplomat has cautioned India over its human rights record on his first official visit to the country, while also risking neighbouring China’s displeasure by meeting a representative of the Dalai Lama.

Since the re-election of Narendra Modi as prime minister in 2019, India’s increasingly authoritarian Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sought to strengthen its stranglehold on power by silencing opposition.

The Modi administration has repeatedly faced accusations of Islamophobia from activists and members of India’s 200 million-strong Muslim minority.

Several Bjp-ruled states have criminalised inter-faith marriages and a new residency law offering citizenship to

‘Both of our democracies are works in progress... sometimes that process is painful, sometimes its ugly’

non-muslim refugees led to protests. Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, told Indian civil society groups that the United States and their country are “connected by shared values” such as the rule of law and freedom of religion.

But, in a veiled warning, Mr Blinken added: “Both of our democracies are works in progress.

“As I said before, sometimes that process is painful, sometimes it’s ugly, but the strength of democracy is to embrace it.”

China will likely dominate Mr Blinken’s meeting with Mr Modi. Washington views India as a vital partner in curtailing the rise of China across the Indo-pacific.

Analysts believe both the US and India are seeking to influence who is appointed as the Dalai Lama’s successor, to ensure the position doesn’t go to a pro-beijing candidate.