In a recent letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, six Democratic lawmakers, including Pramila Jayapal and Ilhan Omar, expressed their concerns over the excessive use of force during student protests in Delhi and other regions in India. They urged Rubio to discuss these issues during his upcoming visit to India.
The lawmakers accused the Indian Embassy in Washington and its consulates of using photographers to monitor protesters demonstrating in support of the opposition Cockroach Janata Party. Rubio is scheduled to meet with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Mumbai next week.
In their letter dated October 17, 2026, the congresspersons highlighted a pattern of repression, wrongful detentions, and excessive force by security forces against protesters. They referenced recent protests directed at former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and calls for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as examples of this alleged violence.
Jayapal also voiced concerns about a significant removal of voters from electoral rolls in India, labeling it a “purge” affecting approximately 130 million individuals, and reiterated her support for the Cockroach Janata Party.
India’s Ambassador to the U.S., Vinay Mohan Kwatra, responded critically, categorizing the lawmakers’ remarks as “unacceptable interference” in India’s internal matters.
The U.S. lawmakers emphasized the importance of safeguarding fundamental freedoms and the right to vote, which they believe are crucial to both U.S. and Indian democratic values. They requested that Rubio address these serious concerns during his visit.
Democratic leader and former White House adviser Ajay Jain Bhutoria criticized Jayapal’s letter, arguing that India, as the world’s largest democracy, has its own judicial system, free press, and over 900 million voters, suggesting that Congress should refrain from lecturing New Delhi on its internal affairs.
The lawmakers also called on Rubio to encourage the Indian government to conduct thorough and independent investigations into reported human rights violations linked to the police response to protests. They urged him to advocate for the release of detainees held unlawfully and to investigate reports of intimidation by Indian diplomatic missions against protesters in the U.S.
Additionally, they requested that the U.S. government evaluate whether India’s actions constitute a pattern of harassment within the U.S., which could affect arms sales under the Arms Export Control Act.
This ongoing discussion highlights the delicate balance between international relations and the advocacy for human rights.
