Diaspora group report alleges Indian government engaged in transnational repression in the U.S.

By A Representative 

The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), a U.S.-based advocacy organization, has released a report alleging that the Indian government is engaging in transnational repression (TNR) tactics within the United States to target critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his administration. The report claims these efforts are facilitated with the involvement of Indian consulates and pro-government networks.

Titled "Transnational Repression: The Modi Regime’s Targeting of Critics in the United States", the report states that India has employed at least nine out of eleven tactics identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as forms of TNR. These include surveillance, harassment, denial of consular services, and intimidation through threats to family members in India. The IAMC argues that these tactics have led to widespread fear and self-censorship among Indian-origin activists, academics, and journalists in the U.S.

The report also contends that Indian consulates have played an active role in implementing these tactics, allegedly acting as extensions of the Indian state by monitoring diaspora activities, influencing local community events, and delaying or obstructing standard bureaucratic processes such as passport renewals.

The IAMC hosted a panel discussion to mark the release, featuring scholars and civil rights advocates. Morley Musick, the report’s author, stated that the cases of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the U.S. are part of a broader pattern. “We found that these incidents are not anomalies but part of a systematic strategy to intimidate dissenters abroad,” Musick said.

Yana Gorokhovskaia, Research Director at Freedom House, noted that India's actions fit into a growing global trend of transnational repression, though she highlighted that India’s operations in democratic countries like the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. are “particularly concerning.”

Dr. Ather Zia, a Kashmiri scholar, pointed to a decrease in public discourse around Kashmir since the Indian government revoked the region’s autonomy in 2019. She attributed this decline to fears among diaspora members of retaliation both in India and abroad. “The persecution isn't limited to detentions—it includes property demolitions, restrictive laws, and denial of movement,” she said.

Mannirmal Kaur of the Sikh Coalition added that members of the Sikh diaspora have also reported intimidation linked to political expression. She called for broader intercommunity support in addressing these concerns, emphasizing that coordinated advocacy could help lawmakers better understand the scope of the issue.

The IAMC describes itself as the largest advocacy organization of Indian Muslims in the U.S., with the stated mission of defending civil and human rights.