US senator Ben Cardin raises concerns over the rising intolerance in India

NEW DELHI: US senator Ben Cardin, also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, on Wednesday raised concerns over the rising intolerance in India, less than a week before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to America.

Cardin was critical of India on alleged human rights violations, extrajudicial killings and religious intolerance. “There are extra-judicial killings in India, there are religious tolerance issues here, women are particularly vulnerable here...these are national challenges. India must do better. It is particularly troublesome on human trafficking here,” Cardin, a Democratic Party member, told a select group of audience here.

He held a series of meetings with senior officials here, including the foreign secretary, national security advisor and environment minister. It is surprising that Cardin decided to raise the issue when the US Congress is laying out a red carpet for Modi. Cardin called upon India to address the issues which, he said, he would be raising with PM Modi for whom he is hosting a reception in Washington next week.