Democratic presumptive nominee for this year’s presidential election Joseph Biden has said restrictions – New Delhi has imposed since August last year – are inconsistent with the secular character of the country and that the Indian Government should restore the democratic rights of the Kashmiri people.
Breaking months-long silence over gross violation of human rights in Kashmir, the candidate’s campaign paper ‘Joe Biden’s agenda for the Muslim American communities’ also voices disappointment with the Indian Government’s anti-Muslims policies.
“In Kashmir, the Indian government should take all necessary steps to restore rights for all the people of Kashmir.
“Restrictions on dissent, such as preventing peaceful protests or shutting or slowing down the Internet, weaken democracy,” the paper says in reference to blanket restrictions on freedom of expression and restriction on the Internet, even during the coronavirus outbreak.
The paper adds, “these measures are inconsistent with the country’s long tradition of secularism and with sustaining a multi-ethnic and multi-religious democracy.”
Since striking down the disputed status of Kashmir territory under its control, New Delhi – led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationalist government – has detained thousands of political leaders, activists and even children.
The region has since August 5 been treated as par of the Indian Union and divided into two administrative units.
Despite international criticism, New Delhi continues to deny access to all U.N. and non-UN humanitarian agencies and international human rights organization into the territory.
The campaign paper, representing Biden’s policy positions, criticizes Prime Minister Narendra Modi over its anti-Muslim measures like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
“Joe Biden has been disappointed by the measures that the government of India has taken with the implementation and aftermath of the National Register of Citizens in Assam and the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act into law.
“These measures are inconsistent with the country’s long tradition of secularism and with sustaining a multi-ethnic and multi-religious democracy.”
