European Parliament Raises Concerns Over Violence and Divisive Policies in India

The Resolution Refers to Manipur Violence, FCRA, UAPA and CAA

Newsreel Asia Insight #110
Jan. 21, 2024

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution, expressing deep concerns over “acts of violence, increasing nationalistic rhetoric, and divisive policies” in India, months before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The resolution, passed on Jan. 17, specifically highlights the ongoing ethnic conflicts in Manipur, where ongoing violence has resulted in over 200 deaths and the displacement of more than 60,000 residents since May 2023. The resolution calls on the European Council and European Commission to urge Indian political leaders to refrain from making inflammatory statements that could exacerbate these conflicts.

Additionally, the resolution draws attention to the “harmful effects” of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on civil society organisations in India. These laws have been criticised for restricting the legitimate activities of various non-governmental organisations and think tanks.

The European Parliament also expressed the need to closely monitor the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly concerning human rights and fundamental freedoms. The resolution urges the European Council and European Commission to remain committed to de-escalation and fostering good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan.

A significant portion of the resolution discusses the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), describing it as “dangerously divisive.” The CAA, passed on Dec. 11, 2019, has been a subject of intense debate and protest within India. It offers citizenship to refugees from six minority religious communities, excluding Muslims, from neighbouring countries, leading to widespread criticism and fears among Indian Muslims about potential disenfranchisement.

The European Parliament’s resolution emphasises the need for India to ensure a safe and democratic environment for human rights defenders, environmental activists, indigenous people, Dalit rights defenders, political opponents, trade union activists, journalists and other civil society actors. It condemns the use of laws pertaining to sedition, foreign funding and terrorism to curb the activities of these groups.

The resolution welcomes the adoption of the Women’s Reservation Bill, which will reserve one third of seats in national and state parliaments for women, calling it “a notable step forward in the right to participation for women and gender equality in India.” It calls on the European Council and European Commission to “engage with India on its efforts to investigate and prevent gender-based violence and discrimination and promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.”

Claudio Francavilla, Associate EU Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch, urged other international partners to convey to the Indian government that its actions on human rights could impact its global bilateral relations, as reported by Scroll.in.

The document from the European Parliament, titled “EU-India relations,” notes the challenges faced by human rights defenders and journalists in India, including harassment, arbitrary detention, and criminal charges under stringent legislation. The resolution also highlights systemic problems like caste-based discrimination.

The European Parliament’s stance on India’s internal policies, particularly the CAA and the situation in Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir, is part of a growing international scrutiny of India’s human rights record and its approach to civil liberties and minority rights.

The resolution noted, “India’s regional and global importance and relevance are growing as it has surpassed China as the most populous country in 2023 and as it is positioning itself as a regional economic and military power and is strengthening partnerships as well as boosting economic and defence ties in particular across Southeast Asia; whereas the EU is India’s largest trading partner and it is in the mutual interest of both sides to foster closer economic ties.”