Democracy, rights not limited by national persepctive: India

The issue of human rights is likely to feature prominently during Blinken’s visit this week

India on Sunday stressed that issues such as human rights and democracy are universal in nature and argued that these values are not limited by “national or cultural perspectives.” Informed sources here elaborated on the current Indian perspective on human rights as it is likely to feature prominently during the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken this week. Officials said India would place Pakistan’s alleged links with financing of terrorists on the agenda of talks with Mr. Blinken. “Issues such as human rights and democracy are universal and extend beyond a particular national or cultural perspective. India is proud of its achievements in both domains and is always glad to share experiences. As a long standing pluralistic society, India is open to engaging those who now recognise the value of diversity,” said a source. The statement indicates that India prefers a general conversation on human rights instead of bringing its own record on that front to the table. The argument about the condition of human rights and democratic values in India appears to have been made in clear response to the comments by Dean Thompson, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs. Mr. Thompson on Saturday laid out the agenda of Mr. Blinken’s tour and said, “With respect to the human rights and democracy question, yes, we will raise it, and we will continue that conversation, because we firmly believe that we have more values in common on those fronts than we don’t.” The visit of Mr. Blinken is his first to India since the Biden-Harris administration was elected last winter.