Washington: Former Vice-President Hamid Ansari and some US lawmakers have expressed their concerns over the prevailing human rights situation in India.
On Wednesday, participating in an event organised by the ‘Indian American Muslim Council’, former VP Ansari said, “In recent years, we have experienced the emergence of trends and practices that dispute the well-established principle of civic nationalism and interpose a new and imaginary practice of cultural nationalism. It wants to distinguish citizens on the basis of their faith, give vent to intolerance, insinuate otherness, and promote disquiet and insecurity.”
The event was held virtually and former VP Ansari was participating as a panelist from India.
The three Congressmen who were the part of the discussion — Jim McGovern, Andy Levin and Jamie Raskin — have traditionally taken anti-India stands irrespective of the government in New Delhi.
The Indian government rejected the allegations that civil liberties have corroded in the country, as was highlighted and discussed by foreign governments and human rights groups. The Indian government asserted that India has well-established and robust democratic practices and institutions to safeguard the rights of all. The government has stressed that the Indian Constitution provides for the protection and ensuring of human rights under various statutes.