As Indo-US relations deepen so will public scrutiny

At one level, it seems there’s nothing but bad news in the Indo-US relationship. Senators and Congressmen of various hues have joined the chorus, with one group ‘pleading’ with President Biden to condemn India on religious freedoms. First, the obvious irritant, which is the Gurpatwant Singh Pannun incident, who till the time of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s public accusations, was a fringe element in India, despite a noisy demand for a ‘referendum’ for an independent Khalistan. The newest in that quiver is an emotional plea from the US Commission on International Religious Freedoms which recently “implored” the government to designate India as a “Country of Particular Concern’ and has stated that “The Indian government’s alleged involvement …. While ‘welcoming’ India’s setting up of a Commission of Inquiry into US charges of an Indian assassination attempt, and noting that the relationship has made a “meaningful impact’ upon the lives of people on both sides, it also warns that if the actions outlined in the indictment if not properly addressed, could “cause significant damage to this very consequential partnership.” This follows a Senate hearing on “Transnational repression” presented by Freedom House, which originally concentrated on China, Iran and a host of ‘top tenners’, also included questions on India.