🧵on Decoding US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti’s Kolkata Visit
Read This Important #Thread👇
Read This Important #Thread👇
US Ambassador to India @ericgarcetti , on 6th July, 2023, while addressing media in Kolkata, West Bengal, said that the US is ready to help Manipur if asked.
He was responding to a specific and pointed question by The Telegraph journalist.
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He was responding to a specific and pointed question by The Telegraph journalist.
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The Telegraph’s Devadeep Purohit invoked Barack Obama’s interview with CNN where he insinuated that India may face another partition if the minorities are not protected.
He claimed that Manipur, in northeast India, is ‘burning’ for a few months.
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He claimed that Manipur, in northeast India, is ‘burning’ for a few months.
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This particular Qn could easily be dismissed as a journo doing his work. Except, there is more to this than what meets the eye.
On 3 July, US envoy went to the Banga Bhawan on Hailey Road, Delhi and tweeted about the delicacies he had there.
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On 3 July, US envoy went to the Banga Bhawan on Hailey Road, Delhi and tweeted about the delicacies he had there.
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Banga Bhawan is the official state guest house of Govt of West Bengal in New Delhi. It has a restaurant there which serves Bengali cuisine. He tweeted ‘See you soon, Kolkata’
Soon, TMC MP Derek O’Brien responded to his tweet as he welcomed Ambassador Garcetti to WB.
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Soon, TMC MP Derek O’Brien responded to his tweet as he welcomed Ambassador Garcetti to WB.
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He also met representatives of eastern and northeastern states. Amb Garcetti also met West Bengal govt officials like Principal Chief Advisor to CM Mamata Banerjee.
Later that day, the press briefing was held where Ambassador Garcetti was asked about US helping Manipur.
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Later that day, the press briefing was held where Ambassador Garcetti was asked about US helping Manipur.
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On 10th July, 2023, @AITCofficial informs that even as their own home state West Bengal is engulfed in post-poll violence, their MPs will go on a ‘fact-finding’ mission to Manipur.
This includes @derekobrienmp, the MP who had tweeted the invitation to Ambassador Garcetti.
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This includes @derekobrienmp, the MP who had tweeted the invitation to Ambassador Garcetti.
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We have now learnt that Ambassador Garcetti, before he even came to India after his appointment, had mentioned that human rights will be a ‘core’ part of his engagement in India.
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Considering the US has no locus standi in Indian internal matters, the Qn to @ericgarcetti could very well have been asked to invoke a reaction so that people with vested interest could spread propaganda, something WSJ’s Sabrina Siddiqui did during PM Modi's PC in US
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Now, the illegal Kuki immigrants from Myanmar, against whom the Meiteis are fighting are predominantly a Christian tribe. Meiteis, on the other hand, are predominantly Hindus.
Garcetti was specifically questioned about ‘Christian minority’.
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Garcetti was specifically questioned about ‘Christian minority’.
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You see, the Kukis have moved the Supreme Court. ‘Manipur Tribal Forum’ had sought Army protection for the Christian Kuki tribals.
The Kukis were represented by senior advocate Colin Gonsalves in the SC.
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The Kukis were represented by senior advocate Colin Gonsalves in the SC.
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Who is Colin Gonsalves? He is founder of Human Rights Law Network, which is part of an org ‘Socio Legal Information Centre’.
In its now-defunct website, it had put up list of donors. This includes Soros’ Open Society Foundation.
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In its now-defunct website, it had put up list of donors. This includes Soros’ Open Society Foundation.
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The HRLN’s role here is interesting as, between 28 June to 1 July, a ‘fact-finding team’ of the CPI’s women’s wing, the National Federation of Indian Women had gone to Manipur.
The ‘fact-finding team’ had labelled the current violence in Manipur as ‘State-sponsored’.
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The ‘fact-finding team’ had labelled the current violence in Manipur as ‘State-sponsored’.
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Soon, an FIR was filed against three women including NFIW general secretary Annie Raja, and national secretary Nisha Sidhu.
Delhi-based lawyer Deeksha Dwivedi was also named in the FIR.
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Delhi-based lawyer Deeksha Dwivedi was also named in the FIR.
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Interestingly, Deeksha Dwivedi was once associated with HRLN, run by Gonsalves, who is representing the Kukis, a predominantly Christian tribe.
In 2014, Deeksha Dwivedi had represented law students of HRLN in a PIL.
thepamphlet.in
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In 2014, Deeksha Dwivedi had represented law students of HRLN in a PIL.
thepamphlet.in
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Other donors to HRLN included the European Commission, Christian Aid, German Embassy, Sweden Embassy and also the American Embassy.
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