Kamala Harris will speak out on issues that are important to her, said a close relative of the Vice-President Elect of the United States. Speaking to The Hindu, G. Balachandran, policy commentator and technology expert, said Ms. Harris was raised by her mother Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who participated in the civil rights movement in the 1960s and she may choose to speak out on human rights related issues in India.
“She will speak out if she is moved by something. You may not want her to say that but she will say, “I am sorry but I will have to say this”,” said Mr. Balachandran, maternal uncle of Ms. Harris. He pointed out that Ms. Harris will not keep quiet if she finds something happening in India that she disagrees with.
He maintained that Ms. Harris draws from the rich legacy of civil rights championed by her mother Shyamala, a biomedical scientist, who left a strong impression on her daughter.
“Shyamala contributed immensely to the legacy of human rights in the United States. Her contribution on that front is much greater than that of Kamala’s,” said Mr. Balachandran, who worked as a consultant at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. He maintained that the election result has sent a message of hope to the world.
The Biden-Harris campaign had maintained that India should restore civil and political rights in Kashmir and Ms. Harris had indicated her disapproval after the August 5, 2019 decision on ending the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. When asked about the issue, Ms Harris had said last year, “We are all watching”.
Mr. Balachandran hinted that his niece could speak on the present situation in Kashmir as well.
“Do not think that just because India has done something... she will keep quiet on that. She has spoken on issues like Kashmir earlier,” he said. Speaking out on issues of global relevance will be the hallmark of the Biden-Harris administration as the election mandate is for bringing the U.S. into the global mainstream as opposed to the policy of President Donald Trump who had withdrawn the country from many of the international and multilateral obligations.
“The result is inspiring a lot of people all over the world because it indicates that the United States will return to the global mainstream which is a good thing,” said Mr. Balachandran who said the entire Indian part of Ms. Harris’s family is planning to attend the swearing-in ceremony on January 20.
“I attended the swearing-in ceremony when she became a Senator and I will be in Washington DC this time as well. All of us will be there when she takes the oath of office,” Mr. Balachandran said.
He is the brother of the Chennai-born Shyamala, who passed away in 2009.