External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday strongly rebutted America’s criticism of “human rights abuses” in India, saying New Delhi too has concerns about human rights in the US. “Look, people have a right to have an opinion about us. But we are also equally entitled to have an opinion about their views and interests, and the lobbies and vote banks that take it forward. So, whenever there is a discussion If it happens, I can tell you we won’t hesitate to speak up,” he said.
Jaishankar’s reply came a day after that defended The US looks closely at its Western allies before suggesting to New Delhi on India’s import of Russian oil and stressed energy resources imports from Moscow.
At a joint press conference after the 2+2 talks, Jaishankar said that even “we share our views on the human rights situation of others, including those in the United States”. “So, when we raise human rights issues in this country, especially when they pertain to our community. And in fact, yesterday we had a case, in fact we stand on that,” he said.
The foreign minister was talking about one incident The attack – which took place less than 10 days – involved two Sikh men in a New York neighborhood being attacked and robbed.
Read also: US raising ‘human rights in India’ is like a pot darkening the kettle
Jaishankar’s counter on the issue of human rights US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a joint press conference on Monday that the US is monitoring some recent developments in India, including the increase in human rights abuses by some government, police . , and prison officers”.
Responding to a question in the press meet, Jaishankar said that the issue of human rights was not discussed in the current meeting, but it has been raised earlier also.
“It’s a topic that has come up in the past. It came up when Secretary Blinken came to India. I think if you remember the press briefing after that I was very open about the fact that we did this. Had discussed and told what I have to say,” he said.
Reply on CAATSA
In another strong rebuttal to the US, which has in the past threatened India with sanctions for buying Russian S-400 missile defense systems, Jaishankar said that CAATSA (Combating US adversaries through sanctions) is a US law. And this is for the US administration. to decide on that.
“It is their law and whatever they have to do, they have to do it,” the foreign minister said in a press briefing. This shows that New Delhi is not really worried about the restrictions.
CAATSA is a US federal law that has allowed the US to impose sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia. The bill was passed by the Senate on 27 July 2017 and then enacted into law by then-President Donald Trump on 2 August 2017.
New Delhi has purchased five S-400 missile systems from Russia at a cost of $5.5 billion as part of a deal sealed in October 2018.
(with inputs from PTI)
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