As an aftermath of the recent joint statement, billboard screens on trucks in New York City displayed the message “Hey Joe! Ask Modi!” referring to Modi as the “#CrimeMinisterOfIndia” in relation to India’s alleged human rights failures. This statement has raised concerns regarding Washington’s approach towards India’s democratic values and human rights situation. The statement referring to these values as “shared values” between the two nation-states, has surprised advocates of democracy given the historical commitment of the US towards democracy and human rights. The joint statement ignores India’s poor democratic values and human rights violations, thereby compromising American democratic and liberal image.
Since 2005, the US-India partnership has developed at an expeditious pace. But looking at the track record of human rights violations and one-party democracy in India, the US has compromised its democratic image by terming Indian undemocratic values as shared values of both countries. President Biden’s emphasis on the “defense of democracy” as a core principle of his administration is commendable but sounds hollow in view of the rockstar treatment of Modi in Washington.
It is significant to note that Modi, who was once denied a US visa for “severe violations of religious freedom,” is being embraced by the US despite concerns about his actions and their impact on Indian democracy. Initially, PM Modi was accused of condoning the violence during the Gujarat riots in 2002. Then, there were claims that police and government officials allegedly directed the rioters and provided them with lists of Muslim-owned properties. Modi’s track record ever since has been deplorable. Despite talks about respecting international law and human rights, the red-carpet treatment extended to a leader with a criminal history has led some to question the sincerity of Biden’s statement.
Modi’s government history of targeting religious and ethnic minorities, tightening its grip on civil society groups through draconian laws, and use of technology to restrict free speech and impose internet shutdowns have caused serious apprehensions about the erosion of rights and unsettled the advocates of human rights.
US treatment of Modi has led to accusations of hypocrisy in US foreign policy by several commentators. As India ascends to the global stage, its democratic stature is undermined by recent occurrences of communal violence, discriminatory practices, conversion laws, and persecution. According to available data, cow vigilante acts led to over 50 fatalities between 2016 and 2020, with a significant increase in numbers during recent years. The implementation of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act in India has further triggered heated discussions and debates regarding religious freedom and pluralism in the nation.
Since 2015, the democratic norms have significantly deteriorated in India. Its democratic score declined from a peak of 7.92 in 2014 to 6.61 in 2020, leading to a drop in its global ranking from 27th to 53rd. This decline is attributed to the phenomenon of democratic backsliding under the leadership of PM Modi. His portrayal of India as the “Mother of Democracy” lacks credibility, given the alleged use of his office and personal popularity to propagate religious and ethnic hatred, using it as a political tool. Critics within India have labelled him as a rape apologist and the leader of the Hindutva cult, which advocates for Akhand Bharat. It is a concept that seeks to convert the entire subcontinent into a Hindu state, potentially leading to the persecution of non-Hindus and infringing on their human rights. It also shows that the hegemonic design of Hindutva ideology is destabilizing the regional security of South Asia. The anti-democratic credentials of the current Indian regime are enough proof to show Modi’s lack of commitment towards democratic norms.
The joint statement is focused on strengthening Indo-US Strategic and Defense Partnership. It has acknowledged India’s participation in the Artemis Accords for space exportation. Further, both states have committed to strengthening their technological partnership by building the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) arrangement. Biden has reiterated US support for India’s permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council. An MoU was also signed to manufacture GE F-414 jet engines in India for its light combat aircrafts Mk2. Additionally, the leaders highlighted the ongoing negotiations between the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and the World Energy Council (WEC) for nuclear reactors. Through these deals, the US is propping up India as a counterweight to China. But this has also strengthened the Hindutva regime of Modi in India. Liberal and democratic values are being sidelined by the US for geopolitical ends.
The mention of “shared values” between the US and India, despite the increasing undemocratic tendencies of the Modi government in India, is a dilemma of this joint statement. The US is not prioritizing human rights issues as stringently as before while dealing with certain allies, leading to accusations of double standards. In conclusion, the joint statement of PM Modi and President Biden in 2023 has sparked debates on the US approach towards India’s undemocratic practices and human rights violations. It is advisable for the US to be more consistent in upholding its commitment to democracy, liberty, and human rights, irrespective of its geopolitical ends.
This article was published in another form at https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/us-india-relations-shared-values-or-compromised-principles/
Syeda Saba Batool
Ms Syeda Saba Batool is a Research Intern at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) Islamabad.
