cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/4680786

The European Union unveiled its “New Strategic EU-India Agenda” this week, setting out a range of areas for closer bilateral cooperation. The document hails India as the “world’s largest democracy” and a “like-minded and trusted partner,” but deliberately overlooks India’s deepening human rights crisis.

Strengthening EU-India trade, economic, and political ties has long been among EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s top priorities. In pursuit of that goal, she has imposed EU silence over India’s authoritarian drift – of which those providing EU services are well aware.

Violence and discrimination against religious minorities, often fueled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, have been normalized. Human Rights Watch has documented unlawful expulsions and illegal demolitions of private property on religious grounds, assaults, arbitrary arrests, the use of counterterrorism and other laws and measures against civil society and diaspora critics, threats to critical media, and abusive internet shutdowns to curb criticism and protests. Indian human rights defenders, independent journalists, and civil society activists face a climate of fear and intimidation. And India’s national human rights commission faces a likely international downgrade.

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