With an overwhelming majority, the European Parliament on July 13 adopted a resolution warning of the existence of “Hindu majoritarianism” in India. The resolution calls on the Indian government to “promptly halt the ongoing ethnic and religious violence”, particularly in the state of Manipur.
The resolution was passed by a show of hands on Thursday after a debate on the issue on Wednesday evening.
The Indian government called the E.U. legislature action “unacceptable”.
The EP resolution urges the government to safeguard the rights of religious minorities, including the Christian community in Manipur, and to proactively prevent any escalation of tensions. It further requests the authorities to ensure unrestricted access for journalists and international observers to the region and to put an end to Internet shutdowns.
The resolution urged the government to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which was deemed unlawful, in accordance with the recommendations of the UN Universal Periodic Review.
MEPs, through the resolution, emphasised the importance of prioritising human rights in the EU’s dialogue and relationship with India, a point that was extensively discussed during the pre-vote debate. This process brought together a diverse coalition of left and right parties, which also passed two additional resolutions concerning human rights in Venezuela and Kyrgyzstan.
In a statement, Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), condemned the European action as “unacceptable” and indicative of a “colonial mindset”.
Mr. Bagchi highlighted that the Indian authorities, including the judiciary, are fully aware of the situation in Manipur and are actively working to uphold peace, harmony, and law and order. He further suggested that the European Parliament should direct its attention towards addressing its internal matters instead.
During the debate, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) expressed concerns not only regarding Manipur and its minority communities but also about the overall human rights situation in India.
