AMRITSAR : Seven US Congressmen led by Donald Norcross have written to the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressing serious concerns on the ongoing farmers' protest in India.
While stating that the US-India relationship is a source of pride and prosperity for both nations, they said as national legislators they respect the right of the government of India to determine national policy, in compliance with existing law. They at the same time said that they also acknowledged the rights of those in India and abroad who are currently protesting peacefully.
Besides, Donald Norcross, the letter is signed by Brendan F. Boyle, Brian Fitzpatrick , Pramila Jayapal , Mary Gay Scanlon, Debbie Dingell, and David Trone.
“We are compelled to reach out to you after seeing in the international press that protesting farmers from Punjab, who were marching peacefully to Delhi were brutally subjected to water cannon attacks, barbed wire barricades, and tear gas by Indian security personnel” writes the Congressmen to the Secretary of State.
They said that the farmer's issue concerns with Sikh Americans linked to Punjab.“ Many Indian Americans are directly affected as they have family members and ancestral land in Punjab and are concerned for the well-being of their families in India” they said.
They had also urged Pompeo to contact his Indian counterpart to reinforce the United States’ commitment to the freedom of political speech abroad.
Reacting to the US Congressmen’s letter to Pompeo, Himmat Singh , coordinator,Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast (SCCEC) said it was due to the lobbying of SCCEC, American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, and American Sikh Cucus that the seven influential members of Congress had written to Pompeo expressing serious concern on the ongoing farmers’ protest in India.