India’s Modi set to meet Biden, address Congress amid human rights criticism

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the U.S. this week to meet with President Biden and address a joint session of Congress. However, as Washington rolls out the red carpet for Modi, his human rights record in India is taking center stage.

At least 75 U.S. lawmakers have signed an open letter to President Biden, urging him to raise “areas of concern” with the Indian leader, who was at one point denied a U.S. visa by the State Department over “severe violations of religious freedom.”

The joint letter highlights “independent, credible reports” on the South Asian country’s shrinking political space, the rise of religious intolerance, the targeting of civil society organizations and journalists, as well as growing restrictions on press freedoms and internet access.

“We do not endorse any particular Indian leader or political party — that is the decision of the people of India — but we do stand in support of the important principles that should be a core part of American foreign policy,” the letter added.

The letter was signed by 75 Democrats, including 18 senators and 57 members of the House of Representatives.

In May, the U.S. State Department’s annual report on religious freedom documented persistent religious violence in India, particularly directed at Muslims.

Among the concerns official noted were “open calls for genocide against Muslims, lynching and other hate-fueled violence, attacks on places of worship and home demolitions, and in some cases impunity and even clemency for those who have engaged in attacks on religious minorities,” as reported by AlJazeera.

Christians and other religious minority groups have also faced persecution, per the report. About a month before Modi’s visit, a senior official reportedly said the United States wants India to condemn the persistent religious violence.

Furthermore, an independent U.S. panel has recommended, for the fourth consecutive year, that India be designated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), a status reserved for some of the world’s worst violators of religious freedom.

As Modi’s address approaches, there is mixed messaging on the issue from top Biden officials. Modi is seen as a crucial partner for the U.S. amid tensions with China and Russia.

“President Biden has never shied away from raising concerns over human rights and he’s not going to shy away from it this week,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

“India has a vibrant democracy and they too work at it. No Democracy at any given time reaches perfection,” Kirby stated.

Meanwhile, Biden is expected to bring up U.S. concerns about democratic backsliding in India, but he will not lecture Modi on the subject, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters, according to Reuters.

When the U.S. sees challenges to press, religious or other freedoms, “we make our views known,” Sullivan said. He added: “We do so in a way where we don’t seek to lecture or assert that we don’t have challenges ourselves.”

“Ultimately, the question of where politics and the question of democratic institutions go in India is going to be determined within India by Indians. It’s not going to be determined by the United States,” Sullivan said.

Ahead of Modi’s address, he also met with top CEOs, including Tesla owner Elon Musk, who expressed high hopes for Tesla in India.

Musk has faced criticism for complying with India’s censorship requests on Twitter but stated his confidence in the direction of Tesla in the country.

Musk said he is “incredibly excited about the future of India” and that the electric carmaker will be in India “as soon as humanly possible”.

Musk added he was “trying to figure out the right timing” to make that happen, as reported by the BBC.

Prime Minister Modi will be received at the White House on Thursday, June 22, and will later speak to lawmakers. This visit marks Modi’s second time addressing a joint session in Congress.