Wed 21 June 2023:

In an attempt to “arrest, investigate, and possibly prosecute Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the Muslim Lawyers Association (MLA) and the South African Kashmiri Action Group (SAKAG) have filed a new complaint with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the South African Police Services (SAPS), The Citizen reported.

In August, Modi is scheduled to attend the BRICS meeting in South Africa.

The National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) is being asked by the Muslim Lawyers Association and SAKAG to investigate claims that Modi committed war crimes and serious human rights violations in Indian-occupied Kashmir and bring him to justice.

MLA spokesperson Yousha Tayob contends there is sufficient evidence to establish a case against Modi for alleged extra-judicial murders, rape and other human rights violations.

“The dossier contains clear prima facie evidence to justify arresting Mr Modi when he attends the BRICS summit in South Africa on 22-24 August 2023.

“We’d like to convey our appreciation to the NPA and SAPS for attending to this matter and we look forward to ongoing discussions. We reserve the right to elevate this case to the ICC at the Hague under Article 25(3) of the Rome Statute,” Tayob said.

The organisations said the South African government has acted on previous complaints.

“In July 2018, the NPA and DPCI, through Interpol, took the initiative of requesting the Indian authorities to indicate whether they are investigating the allegations against Modi domestically.

“Significantly the Saps requested that if they were not investigating these allegations, whether an international investigations team in the Saps could, under jurisdiction through the Rome Statute, travel to the respective countries to conduct investigations. Interpol India refused to co-operate, citing issues of sovereignty,” they said.

BBC Documentary on Modi in Washington Ahead of His US Visit

Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has come under scrutiny from rights groups and opposition lawmakers for its increasingly strident brand of Hindu nationalist politics and an ongoing crackdown on dissent.

Last week, Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged the White House to put rights concerns at “the center” of the Modi-Biden summit.

“Modi and Biden should jointly acknowledge human rights challenges – both in India and the US – and agree to address them,” said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director for the group, in a statement.

HRW and Amnesty International have invited policymakers to a screening of the BBC documentary that questioned Modi’s leadership during deadly sectarian riots in 2002 in Gujarat, when he was chief minister of the western Indian state. A tragic event that resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 individuals, predominantly Muslims.

The documentary was banned in India and the BBC’s offices in New Delhi were raided by tax authorities soon after it aired sparking outrage among rights groups.

Washington’s comparative silence on criticism of Modi does not go unnoticed within India among government critics and those uncomfortable with BJP rule.

“What irks a lot of people in India is the dishonesty towards Indian democratic norms, religious freedom, and of freedom of press,” said Sushant Singh, a senior fellow with one of India’s leading think tanks, Centre for Policy Research.

“The fact that the White House goes out of its way to call India ‘mother of democracy’… does irk people in India because they believe that the United States has been dishonest.”

The country’s press freedom ranking has been falling since 2014, and it leads globally in internet shutdowns.

Despite mounting pressure from human rights groups, it remains uncertain whether their demands will be taken into consideration during Prime Minister Modi’s visit. The designation of India as a consequential partner in Asia by the US adds complexity to the matter, potentially overshadowing human rights concerns.

Similar events in Australia prior to Modi’s visit did not impede its success, with the Australian Prime Minister even praising him and calling PM Modi “the boss”.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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