NEW DELHI: That India has a Democratic Party problem in the US became clear on Thursday when presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders weighed in on the Delhi riots, targeting the Modi government and US President Donald Trump in an equal opportunity tweet.
While the obvious jibe was against Trump, by emphasising that he thought the riots were only aimed against Muslims, Sanders was indirectly criticising the Modi government as well. He is not alone.
Democrat Congressman Joaquin Castro (Texas) added his own criticism. “These deaths in New Delhi are tragic, and the actions of those responsible must be condemned. Support for the US-India relationship has always been based on our shared values. I urge the Indian government to live up to those values and take decisive action to end further violence,” he tweeted.
Jamie Raskin, a Democrat Congressman from Maryland, tweeted, “Horrified by the deadly violence unfolding in India, all fuelled by religious hatred and fanaticism. Liberal democracies must protect religious freedom and pluralism, and avoid the path of discrimination and bigotry.” He was joined by Don Beyer, Democrat from Virginia, who said, “I condemn attacks against Muslims in India, and reject violence, bigotry and religious intolerance. The US state department should too.”
Even the chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel, joined in, “Deeply troubled by the deaths from the communal violence in India over the past couple of days. The right to protest is a key aspect in democracy, but they must remain peaceful and police must ensure the safety of all.”
In the past six months, PM Narendra Modi has shared a political stage with Trump twice, once in the US and this week in Ahmedabad. The question has been asked whether India is making a mistake putting its eggs in the Republican basket, to the detriment of its traditional ties with the Democratic Party.
To say this will not have political implications in a fiercely polarised election year battle in the US will be myopic in the extreme, particularly since Indian-Americans form an influential voting bloc, as do Pakistani-Americans. Therefore, no Democrat politician looking for re-election can afford to ignore events in India, which might sway voters. Indian-Americans overwhelmingly vote Democrat, though in recent years, there has been some move towards the Republicans. US political watchers say Trumps massive rally in Ahmedabad could sway some Indian-American voters, which would be a matter of concern to Democrats.
That said, there is increasingly a section within the so-called “progressive” Democrats who say they find nothing to commend and, therefore, are alienated by Modis India. Certainly, after the events of the past six months — from the negation of Article 370 to the citizenship laws — the liberal Democrat opinion has veered away from India, increasingly labelling it with words like Read More – Source
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