When the State Department prevaricates, Hindu Nationalism wins...Indian Democracy loses
Source: Shambhavi Thakur, News Laundry
When the State Department prevaricates…Hindu Nationalism wins… Indian Democracy loses
In response to a question from a Pakistani journalist on the recent BBC documentary on Modi, the State Department spokesperson, Ned Price, claimed that he was unfamiliar with the documentary, but added this hackneyed response, “I am very familiar with the shared values that connect the United States and India as two thriving, vibrant democracies.” (January 23rd)
Most Americans and Indians would whole-heartedly agree with that sentiment if only he were speaking of the common values enshrined in our two constitutions.
But “shared values” with Modi’s Hindu nationalist government?
Laws against inter-faith unions and freedom of religion; regulations on what one may or may not eat; weaponizing terrorism laws to lock up opponents for indefinite periods, without bail or a hearing; bull-dozing homes of peaceful protesters; refusal to deal with hate speech from supporters, including calls for mass killings of Muslims – these are the results of Hindu nationalist values of the Modi government.
Does our State Department seriously think that these represent “shared values”?
In would seem that more than the contents of the BBC documentary -- which merely replays well known views from the ground – the Indian government’s ballistic and xenophobic response in banning the film speaks volumes about the value it places on freedom of expression.
Surely, Ned Price does not think that the Modi’s massive assault on independent media, jailing of journalists, and arresting students who are defying his ban on the BBC documentary are also “shared values”?
The subject of the documentary came up again in the White House press briefing a couple of days later (January 25th). Ned Price doubled-down on his ‘all lives matter’ response: “We continue to highlight the importance of democratic principles, such as freedom of expression, freedom of religion or belief, as human rights that contribute to the strengthening of our democracies. This is a point we make in our relationships around the world. It’s certainly a point we’ve made in India as well.”
Read carefully. Freedom of expression and freedom of religion “contribute” to the strengthening of democracies. Apparently, these values are not considered basic requirements of a democracy, but optional “nice to have” values.
It is sad that the Biden campaign, which often claimed that Human Rights would form the backbone of its international diplomacy has morphed into a Biden presidency that is so intent on Modi as a partner that it is willing to redefine the very values of democracy.
This is a dangerous precedence.
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More resources:
Veteran journalist and a friend of HfHR, Kalpana Sharma writes about Modi’s “self-goal” in News Laundry.
Our Advisory Board member Prof. Rajmohan Gandhi writes in the HIMMAT magazine, “the establishment’s extreme reaction to the documentary has only revived memories of the unchecked hostility that Gujarat’s Muslims faced in 2002, and also underlined the insecurity and indignities they’ve lived with thereafter.”
Author and journalist Vidya Krishnan writes in the Caravan, “Over the years, Modi has dedicated himself to distancing himself from the Gujarat riots with the single-minded focus of a liar who will try every trick to drown the unpleasantness of his lies. The truth though, it does not simply drown. It floats to the surface like a pale, bloated, ugly body. Narendra Modi was directly responsible. That is the truth. We should get used to saying these words.
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