Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Thursday led a progressive boycott of a high-profile speech by Indian Premier Narendra Modi over his spotty human rights record and history of attacks on Muslims in the world’s largest democracy.
The firebrand lawmaker, whose district includes many South Asian communities in Queens, said Modi’s authoritarian record and fanning radical Hindu nationalism should have disqualified him from the rare honor of addressing a joint session of Congress.
“We should not do so for individuals with deeply troubling human rights records — particularly for individuals whom our own State Department has concluded are engaged in systematic human rights abuses of religious minorities and caste-oppressed communities,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
Bronx Rep. Jamaal Bowman also skipped the Thursday afternoon speech, along with Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota), the only two Muslim women in Congress.
“Modi has incited dangerous nationalism and violence in India, has promoted Islamophobia, and more,” Bowman said. “Inviting someone like him to speak to Congress is unacceptable.”
But the vast majority of lawmakers, including leaders of both parties, attended the speech and eagerly joined in the hoopla for Modi, who appears to be widely popular among Indian immigrants in the U.S.
Modi’s speech was repeatedly interrupted by enthusiastic bipartisan applause.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he was proud to have met with Modi earlier on a trip to India, where he stressed strengthening ties along with improving human rights.
“We cannot lose sight of the values that define us as democracies in the first place, like freedom of expression, minority rights, civil liberties,” Schumer said. “I told this to him in person, because without that, no democracy … can long thrive.”
House Speaker Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said he is considering making a rare bipartisan trip to India with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the fall to bolster ties with New Delhi.
“Strengthening the relationship between the United States and India is critically important,” Jeffries said.
The progressive boycott barely cast a shadow over the jubilant mood as Modi basked in an unusually warm public welcome from President Biden as the two leaders look to strengthen economic and geopolitical ties.
Thousands gathered on the White House South Lawn for a welcoming ceremony, listening to performances by violinist Vibha Janakiraman and the a cappella group Penn Masala.
As Modi arrived, the crowd — including many members of the Indian diaspora dressed in tradition garb — broke out in a chant of “Modi, Modi, Modi.”
With Modi by his side, Biden said he believes the U.S.-India relationship “will be one of the defining relationships of the 21st century. Since I’ve become president, we’ve continued to build a relationship built on mutual trust, candor and respect.”
“All eyes are on the two largest democracies in the world, India and America,” Modi said as the leaders met in the Oval Office. “I believe that our strategic partnership is important. I’m confident that working together will be successful.”
Human rights advocates and progressives question Biden’s decision to fawn over Modi, whose popularity masks the fact that his nine-year tenure has been marked by a backslide in political, religious and press freedoms.
In 2005, the U.S. revoked Modi’s visa over concerns that he sat on his hands during 2002 riots by Hindu extremists that killed an estimated 1,000 Muslims. An investigation approved by the Indian Supreme Court later absolved Modi.