India Caucus: Allow peaceful protests, access to internet

Co-chair of the India Caucus, the largest country-specific group in the US House of Representatives, Congressman Brad Sherman has urged the Indian Government to ensure the norms of democracy are being maintained, and protesters are allowed to protest peaceably and have the access to the Internet. Also Read | Farmer writes a letter to PM Modi's mother on repealing farm laws Sherman said he had convened a meeting regarding the farmers’ protests with his other Republican Co-Chair Congressman Steve Chabot and Vice-Chair Congressman Ro Khanna to speak with India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu. “All friends of India hope the two sides can reach an agreement,” he said. His observations came despite two statements put out by the Ministry of External Affairs detailing the government’s stand. Sherman, who supported India on many issues, has opposed some decisions taken during Modi 2.0 such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). But in December last year, when the farmers were camping on the outskirts of Delhi, he had said the “farmers’ yearning to be heard is another powerful example of how peaceful protest is one the cherished democratic traditions binding the two countries together”. he said. Sherman has also supported amendments to the US Arms Export Control Act to put India on par with key NATO allies and has opposed third party mediation in Kashmir. During his 2019 US visit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had met Congressmen, including Sherman and Ami Bera. On December 3 last year, Sherman had excluded India while co-introducing a resolution to “End enforced disappearances in Asia and globally”. Also Read | Centre to RS: Trudeau's remarks on farm laws may damage ties with Canada A lot of international celebrities and politicians have come out in support of protesting farmers. Rihanna, Amanda Cerny, Justin Trudeau, Susan Sarandon, Meena Harris, Greta Thunberg, to name a few are the ones to bring the global attention to the farmers protest. Farmers’ organizations have written to the UNHRC’s India head seeking intervention for the release of arrested protestors. -PTC News