India caucus co-chief for resolution of farmers' stir

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 6

Congressman Brad Sherman, co-chair of the India Caucus – the largest country-specific group in the US House of Representatives – has urged the Indian Government to make sure that the norms of democracy are maintained, protesters are allowed to protest peaceably and to have access to the Internet.

Sherman said he had convened a meeting with his other Republican Co-Chair Congressman Steve Chabot, and Vice-Chair Congressman Ro Khanna to speak with India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, regarding the farmers’ demonstrations in India.

“I urged the Indian Government to make sure that the norms of democracy are maintained and that protesters are allowed to protest peaceably and to have access to the Internet, and to journalists. All friends of India hope that the parties can reach an agreement,” he said.

Sherman’s observations came despite two statements put out by the Ministry of External Affairs detailing the government’s stand.

Sherman has supported India on many issues but has opposed some decisions taken during Modi 2.0 such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). But in December last year, when the farmers were camping on the outskirts of Delhi, he had said the “farmers’ yearning to be heard is another powerful example of how peaceful protests is one the cherished democratic traditions binding our two countries together”.

Once tipped to be the US Ambassador to India, Sherman had on February 1 condemned the destruction of the Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Davis, California, and also lauded India for supplying Covid vaccines to neighbours.

Sherman has supported amendments to the US Arms Export Control Act to put India on par with key NATO allies and has opposed third party mediation in Kashmir suggested by then US President Donald Trump.

“Everyone who knows anything about foreign policy in South Asia knows that India consistently opposes third-party mediation in Kashmir,” he had said.

However, Sherman has in the past wondered whether the CAA was “a serious legislation or a crackpot idea going nowhere?”

Significantly, during his 2019 US visit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had avoided meeting Pramila Jayapal but had met other Congressmen, including Sherman and Ami Bera.

On December 3 last year, Sherman had done another favour by excluding India while co-introducing a resolution to “End enforced disappearances in Asia and globally”.