“Lecturing India on human rights won’t work”: Ro Khanna advocates for dialogue to strengthen India-US ties

Speaking at the Desis Decide summit alongside other Indian-American lawmakers, the Congressman highlighted the need for understanding historical contexts to Indian democracy and fostering a culture of mutual respect.

The comments were made during a panel discussion featuring Indian lawmakers at the Desis Decide summit. / Courtesy Photo

Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna on May.16 said that constructive discussion rather than “lecturing India” on the issue of human rights is the best way to further India-US relations. Khanna also added that the present US government needs to change its approach of raising issues with the Indian leadership.

Speaking at the Desis Decide summit, Khanna was referring to recent remarks made by Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar where he had criticized the West's tendency of trying to “lecture India”.

“India was colonized for over 100 years. So, when we're having a conversation about human rights, and you're having a conversation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar or someone else, you have to understand that (before) just coming in from a perspective of lecturing India. When they say that we’ve had colonial powers lecture us for hundreds of years, it (that perspective) is not going to be productive,” Khanna said at the summit while sitting alongside other prominent members of the Indian-American community including: Shri Thanedar, Pramila Jayapal and Dr Ami Bera.

“Having a conversation (with India) saying, here are the imperfections in our democracy, what are the imperfections in your democracy, and how do we collectively advance democracy and human rights, I think is a more constructive approach,” Khanna added.

Jayapal said she agrees with Khanna. "But we do have to think about all the United States’ interests,” she continued. “That is economic, for sure. India is an important partner for us because of other regional dynamics as well as global dynamics. Just like we criticize the Chinese government for the treatment of Uyghurs or any other country in the world, we must be able to also look at what’s happening in India and call attention to it.”

Congressman Shri Thanedar said he was in favor of a strong India-US relationship for several reasons.

“We need a strong US-India relationship. India historically has been playing both sides, Russia and the US. But it’s time for India to commit to a strong friendship with the United States, and that’s something that I want to work on. The US must recognize India’s power, its economic power, and India remains the best solution to counteract China’s aggression. So, I’m just working on a strong India-US relationship,” said Thanedar.

More chances of achieving a two-state solution in Israel-Palestine conflict if Biden returns: Khanna

The US recently voted against the resolution backing Palestine to become a full United Nations member. Reacting to the development, Khanna said that there was a 1990 law quoting which the US government can refuse to fund the United Nations if it ever recognized the state of Palestine, adding that the current US President Joe Biden would show more maturity in handling such circumstances.

"There's this arcane law because I was (wondering) why are we continuing to veto the United Nations resolutions on recognizing a Palestinian state. And there's a law apparently in our books in 1990 that if the United Nations recognizes a Palestinian state, then the United States can't fund the United Nations. So when we talk about complexity, who's going to have a better shot of changing that law? Obviously if we have President Biden there and a house in the Senate," Khanna said.

Ro Khanna might be running for President?

When ABC national correspondent and panel moderator Zohreen Shah asked the panelists, "Is Ro Khanna running for President?", Thanedar and Jayapal responded in a yes while another Indian-American Congressman Dr Ami Bera said "we will see".

Khanna himself broke out in laughter and said "who knows?".

There was more. Shah asked the panelists about their predictions on how long it would take for the US to get an Indian-American president for the first time.

"Less than a decade,” said Dr Bera. “Very soon,” Jayapal responded. “Within a decade,” said Khanna while Thanedar's response was the most optimistic when he confidently said: “In four years”.