The spokesperson for US President Joe Biden, Karine Jean-Pierre, left up the potential that, as a “straight shooter,” he would bring up Muslim human rights issues with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their conversation at the Middle East Quad launch in Israel next month.
When a reporter asked her at her daily briefing on Wednesday if Biden would bring up with Modi the demolition of some Muslims’ homes linked to protests, she responded, “He’s a straight shooter, he has no problem talking to leaders about humanitarian rights, about freedoms, about the importance of democracy.”
She continued, “The President has done this in the past.”
But Jean-Pierre clarified, “I can’t speak too clearly to what is on the agenda and what is going to be their discourse.”
When asked again by the reporter, she responded, “I’m just saying the President is a straight shooter, speaks very clearly, and has no difficulty having those direct dialogues when it comes to humanitarian rights.”
In response to comments made by former BJP executives, protests have started in several Indian cities.
Homes connected to certain Muslims who took part in the protests have been destroyed in many locations in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh by officials who alleged that they were built illegally as some of the protests descended into violence.
In response to the remarks against the Prophet, the BJP has suspended one of its spokespersons, Nupur Sharma, and removed the party’s head of media in Delhi, Naveen Jindal.
Ned Price, a spokesperson for the State Department, had criticised their remarks last week and stated: “We were delighted to see that the party officially opposes such abhorrent comments.”
About “human rights concerns, particularly freedom of religion or belief and we encourage India to promote respect for human rights,” he added, the US regularly interacted with the Indian government at senior levels.
During Biden’s visit to Israel in the second week of July, the new Quad comprising India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the US—to be referred to as I2U2 after the initials of the countries—is set to be officially launched.
According to the White House, Modi and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan would participate virtually.
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There is a cloud over Israel’s representation because Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will serve as the interim prime minister when the Knesset holds elections after Prime Minister Naftali Bennett lost his legislative majority.
The US frequently talked with the Indian government at senior levels over “human rights concerns, notably freedom of religion or belief and we encourage India to promote respect for human rights,” he added.
The new Quad made up of India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the US—to be known as I2U2 after the countries’ initials—is scheduled to be formally inaugurated during Biden’s trip to Israel in the second week of July.
