S Jaishankar said that the human rights issue was not a topic of discussion during India-US 2+2 dialogues. He added that India also has views on other people’s human rights situation, including that of the US.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the human rights issue was not a topic of discussion during the India-US 2+2 ministerial meeting this week. However, EAM Jaishankar asserted that whenever there is a discussion, New Delhi will not be reticent about speaking out. Taking a strong stand, EAM Jaishankar said that people are entitled to have views about India, adding, “We also take our views on other people’s human rights situation, including that of the United States.”
Earlier, Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said that the US is monitoring some recent “concerning developments” in India, including a rise in human rights abuses by some government, police, and prison officials. The joint news conference after the 2+2 dialogue was addressed by Blinken, Jaishankar, Singh and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Responding to a question, EAM Jaishankar said while the issue of human rights was not discussed during the current meeting, it has come up in the past.
EAM Jaishankar stated, “On the human rights issue; no, we did not discuss human rights during this meeting. This meeting was primarily focused on political-military affairs.”
“It is a subject which has come up in the past. It came up when Secretary Blinken came to India. I think if you recall the press briefings after that I was very open about the fact that we had discussed it and said what I had to say,” S Jaishankar said.
