WASHINGTON’S HUMAN RIGHTS TEST FOR NEW DELHI: SIX US DEMOCRATS PRESS RUBIO TO CONFRONT PROTEST CRACKDOWN

October 18, 2026

Six Democratic lawmakers in the United States have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to raise concerns over alleged police excesses, the detention of demonstrators and the surveillance of protests linked to the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) during his forthcoming visit to India.

In a letter sent on Friday, lawmakers Pramila Jayapal, Ilhan Omar, Jim McGovern, Rashida Tlaib, Eleanor Holmes Norton and Jesus Garcia alleged a pattern of repression and excessive use of force against student protesters in Delhi and other parts of India. They also accused Indian diplomatic missions in the United States of deploying photographers to monitor demonstrations held in support of the CJP.

The lawmakers cited protests against former Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. They called for thorough, transparent and independent investigations into alleged human rights violations and urged the release of individuals detained unlawfully for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

The letter also asked the US government to investigate allegations of surveillance and intimidation by Indian diplomatic missions on American soil. The lawmakers further urged an assessment of whether any established pattern of intimidation or harassment could affect India's eligibility for arms sales under the US Arms Export Control Act.

Rubio is scheduled to visit India and meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Mumbai. The appeal comes amid growing international scrutiny of the handling of protests in India.

The intervention has also drawn criticism from Democratic leader and former White House adviser Ajay Jain Bhutoria, who accused Jayapal of interfering in India's internal affairs. India's ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, had previously described her remarks as unacceptable interference in the country's domestic matters.