Washington: Six Democratic lawmakers in the United States have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to raise concerns over the handling of student protests in India, including demonstrations by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), during his upcoming talks with Indian officials.

In a letter sent on Friday (local time), the lawmakers alleged excessive use of force, wrongful detentions and restrictions on peaceful protests. They also called for an investigation into reports that Indian diplomatic missions in the US had monitored protesters.

The letter comes ahead of Rubio's visit to India, where he is scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Mumbai. The lawmakers said the issues should be discussed as part of the two countries' engagement on democratic rights and civil liberties. 

Six Democrats flag alleged crackdown on protests

The letter was signed by Pramila Jayapal, Ilhan Omar, Jim McGovern, Rashida Tlaib, Eleanor Holmes Norton and Jesus Garcia.

The lawmakers alleged a pattern of repression and excessive force by security personnel during student protests in Delhi and other parts of India. They cited demonstrations linked to demands for the resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, as well as ongoing protests seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

They urged Rubio to press the Indian government to order thorough, transparent and independent investigations into alleged human rights violations linked to the police response.

The lawmakers also called for the release of people they said had been detained unlawfully for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
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India accused of monitoring protesters in US

The Democrats also raised allegations that the Indian Embassy in Washington and consulates in other American cities had deployed photographers to monitor demonstrations supporting the CJP.

They asked Rubio to investigate reports that Indian diplomatic missions had engaged in surveillance and intimidation of protesters on US soil.

The letter further urged the US government to assess whether the alleged conduct amounted to a pattern of intimidation or harassment that could affect India's eligibility for arms sales under the Arms Export Control Act.

Jayapal raises concern over voter roll revision

The lawmakers also referred to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in India. Jayapal expressed concern over what she described as a "purge" of 130 million voters from draft electoral rolls and voiced support for the CJP.

India has rejected Jayapal's remarks on the voter revision exercise. Indian officials described her comments as unwarranted interference in the electoral practices of a fellow democracy. India's Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, had also called her remarks "unacceptable interference in India's internal affairs".

The lawmakers said freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and the right to vote were central to the democratic principles shared by India and the US.
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Former Biden adviser criticises lawmakers' move

Democratic leader and former White House adviser Ajay Jain Bhutoria criticised Jayapal's intervention, arguing that US lawmakers should not lecture India on its internal affairs.

"India is the world's largest democracy with its own courts, free press and 900M+ voters. Congress has no business lecturing New Delhi on its internal affairs and undermines a vital US-India partnership. Focus on US problems," Bhutoria said in a post on X.

The exchange adds a contentious human rights issue to the agenda ahead of Rubio's India visit, with the six lawmakers urging Washington to raise the allegations directly with Indian officials.

(With PTI inputs)