European Union told to talk human rights with India, not as any other business

By Our Representative
The European Union (EU) and India should “quickly restart” their talks about human rights, because for “too many years pressing issues like freedom of belief and religion have not been discussed”, said participants of the online conference “Situation of Human Rights in India”, hosted by Members of the European Parliament (EP) Bert-Jan Ruissen (Netherlands) and Cristian Terhes (Romia) under the umbrella of the EP Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Religious Tolerance.
“Freedom of religion is clearly being limited in India, to a worrying level”, stated Bert-Jan Ruissen. “The EU as a community of values and economic superpower is uniquely placed to stand up worldwide for human rights, of which freedom of belief is one of the most important.”
He pressed the EU to step up its efforts. “Human rights should be mentioned as a top priority in meetings with India, not as ‘any other business’. I recommend the European Parliament to adopt an urgency resolution on the matter”
Stressing on positive impact on countries that respect fundamental rights, Cristian Terhes said, “India is the second country in the world by population, with tremendous potential. As history proved, any country that respected human rights and religious freedom became stronger and more prosperous. Strengthening the respect for human rights and religious freedom within its borders, India could bring more prosperity for its citizens and make its voice stronger and better heard in the world.”
Four speakers addressed the online conference: Rahil Patel, Associate at Oxford House Research, Anna Hill, EU advocacy officer of NGO Open Doors International, Alessandro Pecorari, Europe Liaison Officer for Christian Solidarity Worldwide, and Shabnam Hashmi of ANHAD, social activist and a human rights defender from India.
Rahil Patel stated: “The matter of India is urgent. Democratic values are backsliding with speed and the EU can be a great economic partner that can initiate tough conversations. But first, before we engage and try to change India, we need to understand how it sees the world. The Hindu worldview through a democratic lens is complex.”
“A rise in Hindu nationalist ideology has led to hate speech, discrimination and violence against minorities including Muslims and Christians. The number of reported annual incidents against Christians has increased more than five times between 2014 and 2019”, said Anna Hill, adding, “Anti-conversion laws have a negative effect on minority rights.”
“We need to resume the postponed EU-India Human Rights Dialogue from January 12, so that they can discuss examples of best practice in law enforcement reform”, insisted Alessandro Pecorari, “The EU should urge India in every interaction to investigate and address allegations of complicity in the police hierarchy in emboldening non-state actors and for failure to register, investigate and prosecute cases.
Shabnam Hashmi said: “There is an unprecedented attack on democracy in India. All dissent is being curbed and human rights defenders maligned, cases filed against them and many are jailed. Voices defending human rights and minority rights are silenced.”
She added, “The violence, hate speeches, attacks on journalists, human rights defenders (HRDs), women, artists , intellectuals and minorities, especially Muslims and Christians, have spiralled after Modi regime came to power. EU must discuss the status of human rights in India in any future talks with India as top priority.”

Comments

Anonymous said…

the problem is - either you sell fighter aricraft to India or discuss human rights and so on.

March 07, 2021

Anonymous said…

EU is better off without doing any business with India. EU doesn't need India. India doesn't need EU. Human rights?? Shove it

March 29, 2021

'Enough evidence' in Indian tradition to support legal basis for same-sex marriage

By Iyce Malhotra, Joseph Mathai, Sandeep Chachra* The ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court on same-sex marriage provides space for much-needed conversations on issues that have hitherto remained “invisible” or engaged with patriarchal locker room humour. We must recognize that people with diverse sexualities and complex gender identities have faced discrimination, stigma and decades of oppression. Their issues have mainly remained buried in dominant social discourse, and many view them with deep insecurities.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Victim of communal violence, Christians in Manipur want Church leadership to speak up

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ* The first eleven days of May 2023 have, in many ways, been a defining period of Indian history! Plenty has happened in a rapid-fire stream of events. Ironically, each one of them are indicators of how crimes and the criminalisation of society has become the ‘new norm’; these include, the May Day rallies with a focus on the four labour codes which are patently against the rights of workers; the U S Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its Annual Report on 1 May stating that conditions for religious freedom in India “continued to worsen in 2022”; the continued protest by the Indian women wrestlers at Jantar Mantar for the expulsion of the chief of the Indian Wrestlers Federation on very serious allegations; the Elections in Karnataka on 10 May (with communalism and corruption as the mainstay); the release of the fake, derogative and insensitive film ‘The Kerala Story’; the release of World Free Press Index on 3 May which places India

Unlike other revolutionaries, Hindutva icon wrote 5 mercy petitions to British masters

By Shamsul Islam* The Hindutva icon VD Savarkar of the RSS-BJP rulers of India submitted not one, two,or three but five mercy petitions to the British masters! Savarkarites argue: “There are no evidences to prove that Savarkar collaborated with the British for his release from jail. In fact, his appeal for release was a ruse. He was well aware of the political developments outside and wanted to be part of it. So he kept requesting for his release. But the British authorities did not trust him a bit” (YD Phadke, ‘A complex Hero’, "The Indian Expres"s, August 31, 2004)

Polygamy in India "down" in 45 yrs: Muslims' from 5.7 to 2.55%, Hindus' 5.8 to 1.77%, "common" in SCs, STs

By Rajiv Shah Amidst All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) justifying polygamy, saying it “meets social and moral needs and the provision for it stems from concern and sympathy for women”, facts suggest the the practice is down from 5.7 per cent of Muslim families in 1961 to 2.55 per cent in 2006.

India joining US sponsored trade pillar to hurt Indian farmers, 'promote' GM seeds, food

Counterview Desk As many as 32 civil society organisations (CSOs), in a letter to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and India joining the trade pillar, have said that its provisions will allow the US to ensure a more favourable regulatory regime “for enhancing its exports of genetically modified (GM) seeds and GM food”, underlining, it will “significantly hurt the livelihoods of Indian farmers.”

Modi govt 'wholly untrustworthy' on Covid data, censored criticism on pandemic: Lancet

By Rajiv Shah* One of the world’s most prestigious health journals, brought out from England, has sharply criticised the Narendra Modi government for being “wholly untrustworthy on Covid-19 health data”, stating, the “official government figures place deaths at more than 530 000, while WHO excess death estimates for 2020 and 2021 are near 4·7 million.”

Savarkar 'opposed' Bhagat Singh's, Netaji's dream of India, supported British war efforts

By Shamsul Islam* In a shocking development, the student wing of the RSS put the busts of martyrs Bhagat Singh and Subhash Chandra Bose with Savarkar's on one pedestal at the University of Delhi late in the night on August 20, 2019. Bhagat Singh sacrificed his life for a socialist-democratic-secular republic and Netaji raised Azad Hind Fauj (INA) consisting of people of all religions and regions for armed liberation of India.

Undermining law, breastfeeding? Businesses 'using' celebrities to promote baby food

By Rajiv Shah* A report prepared by the top child welfare NGO, Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI), has identified as many as 15 offenders allegedly violating the Indian baby food law, the Infant Milk Substitutes Feeding Bottles, and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 1992, and Amendment Act 2003 (IMS Act), stating, compliance with the law “seems to be dwindling by the day.”

Search This Blog