Seven lawmakers in the United States, including Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, have asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to...
Seven lawmakers in the United States, including Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, have asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to take up the ongoing farmers’ protest in Delhi with his Indian counterpart, reported PTI on Friday.
In a letter dated December 23, the American lawmakers told Pompeo that although the agitation is of particular concern to Sikh-Americans linked to Punjab, it also heavily impacted other Indian-Americans from various Indian states.
“Many Indian Americans are directly affected as they have family members and ancestral land in Punjab and are concerned for the well-being of their families in India,” the letter added. “In view of this serious situation, we urge you to contact your Indian counterpart to reinforce the United States’ commitment to the freedom of political speech abroad.”
The lawmakers said that given that the US, as a nation, is familiar with political protests, it could offer counsel to India “during their current period of social disturbance”. “As national legislators, we respect the right of the government of India to determine national policy, in compliance with existing law,” they wrote. But, “we also acknowledge the rights of those in India and abroad who are currently protesting peacefully against agricultural laws that many Indian farmers see as an...
