Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accompanied by external affairs minister S Jaishankar speaks during a news conf... Read More

WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday deferred to what it called a “robust debate” inside a democratic India on the controversial Citizenship Act while maintaining it cares deeply about protecting minorities and religious rights everywhere.

Asked about the religion specific legislation that has resulted in some disquiet and unrest across India and attracted criticism from many quarters, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US cares deeply and always will about protecting minorities and religious rights, but “we honour Indian democracy as they have a robust debate inside of India on the issue”.

“The US will be consistent in the way that we respond to these issues, not only in India, but all across the world,” Pompeo said in remarks to the media following the 2+2 dialogue between the US and India, which he said was focused on enhancing ties between the two countries despite all the “noise and chaos” around, including the impeachment process in Washington DC that was going on during the talks.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar too skirted the issue of purported religious exclusivism that critics say inherent in the legislation, saying it is a “measure designed to address the needs of persecuted religious minorities from certain countries”.

“If you look at what those countries are, and therefore what the minorities are, perhaps can get you to understand why certain religions were identified in terms of characterising those who had come across,” he explained.

The Trump administration has shown considerable forbearance towards the Modi government’s moves of what its supporters say are strengthening the union of India and its critics argue is resulting in diminution of the country’s secular ethos.

There has been mild and circumspect criticism about the civil liberties and human rights aspects, but both with regards to the developments in Kashmir and now with regards to the CAA, Washington has been undemonstratively supportive, suggesting these are India’s internal issues to resolve.

At a broader regional level, the 2+2 talks also resulted in the Indian side receiving assurances from US interlocutors that New Delhi’s sensitivities would be taken into account as Washington winds down its operations in Afghanistan, including continued US support for the Chabahar port in Iran (which is India's beachhead into Afghanistan) despite US tensions with Tehran.

“We understand that India has rightful concerns about a terrorism emanating from Pakistan and we assured them that we will take that into account,” Pompeo said with regards to developments in Afghanistan, which he said Washington was keeping India apprised of.

