Morning Digest | Dozens of U.S. lawmakers ask Biden to raise democracy, rights concerns with Modi; Assam Rifles secures threatened supply route to Manipur’s hill districts, and more

The Hindu’s Morning Digest brings readers a select list of stories to start the day

Dozens of U.S. lawmakers ask Biden to raise democracy, rights concerns with Modi

More than 70 American Senators and Representatives have written to U.S. President Joe Biden on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in Washington DC for a state visit, asking Mr. Biden to raise concerns around democratic norms and human rights in India with Mr. Modi.

“A series of independent, credible reports reflect troubling signs in India toward the shrinking of political space, the rise of religious intolerance, the targeting of civil society organizations and journalists, and growing restrictions on press freedoms and internet access,” the lawmakers wrote, citing a number of reports and statistics such as rankings for press and religious freedoms.

Assam Rifles secures threatened supply route to Manipur’s hill districts

The Assam Rifles has moved additional troops to secure a bridge on a national highway in south Manipur that is the only route for essential supplies to the tribal district of Churachandpur district in the violence-hit State. A source said that additional columns were moved after security forces picked up chatter from Valley-based Meitei insurgent groups who were planning to damage the bridge at Sinzawl on NH102 B, which connects Manipur with neighbouring Mizoram.

PM Modi’s stoic silence sends a message of indifference to Manipur’s people: Opposition

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh is the “architect” of the ethnic violence in his State, leaders of 10 like-minded Opposition parties of Manipur said in a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which they also questioned the PM’s “stoic silence”.