Skip to main content

Earlier with Human Rights Watch, new US ambassador to India opposed citizenship law

By A Representative 

The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), claiming to be the largest advocacy organization of Indian Muslims in the United States, has said that the confirmation of Eric Garcetti as US Ambassador to India, would help "promote and uphold the values of human rights and religious freedoms."
Welcoming his appointment, the Washington, DC-based advocacy group, which seeks to work for "safeguarding India's pluralist and tolerant ethos", welcomes the Senate confirmation of Eric Garcetti after almost a two-year wait ith a 52-42 vote paved the way for Garcetti, who is former Los Angeles Mayor and was on the board of Human Rights Watch as India envoy.
Insisting that he will be "an excellent representative of the US in India", IAMC said in a media communique, "Garcetti's extensive experience in politics and public service makes him an ideal candidate for this critical diplomatic position."
It added, "We are confident that his leadership and commitment to public service and human rights will enable him to navigate this critical role considering the rampant persecution of religious minorities and threats of looming genocide."
Recalled IAMC, In 2021, Garcetti told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that "human rights and strong democratic institutions are key elements of our strategic partnership and values enshrined in our constitutions, and if confirmed, I will engage closely and regularly with the Indian government on these issues."
It continued, "He had also said that the human rights and discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) would be on top of his agenda while engaging with the Indian government."
“Garcetti's appointment as US ambassador to India comes with a great responsibility to promote and uphold the values of human rights and religious freedoms. It is also time for the Biden administration to stand with India’s religious minorities and demand accountability from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government for the atrocities committed against them,” said IAMC executive director Rasheed Ahmed.
"We hope that Ambassador Garcetti will live up to his promises and prioritize the protection of minorities during his tenure," he added.

Comments

TRENDING

The making of a self-made woman: How eighty sheep changed everything for Kalawati Ninama

By Vikas Meshram*  About forty-two kilometres from Rajasthan's Banswara district, in the tribal heartland of Ghatol block, lies the small village of Ubapana. This is where Kalawati Ninama, her husband Dhulji, and their four children make their home. Their days unfold much like those of their neighbours—bustling mornings, long hours of farm labour through the afternoon, and evenings spent tending livestock. For this family, farming and livestock were once simply a means of putting food on the table. Today, they have become the sturdy foundation of something far greater: genuine self-sufficiency.

India has spent billions on skilling. Where are the jobs?

By Vikas Gupta   India loves the photograph of a certificate ceremony. A minister on a stage. A banner bearing the word “skill.” Young people holding folders that promise a future. It is a reassuring image because it tells us the problem has a manageable answer: train the young, make them job-ready, and work will follow.

BAPS, the Eiffel Tower and the curious silence on secularism

By Rajiv Shah   I was a little surprised to see how some of those whom I respect for taking a firm stand on patriarchal issues reacted to the manner in which they responded to the recent incident in Paris, in which women employees of the Eiffel Tower were asked to remain "invisible" on September 5 when 100 BAPS sadhus visited one of the world's top tourist destinations.