01/14/2022 United States (International Christian Concern) – The Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced the nomination of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to be the next U.S. Ambassador to India to the full Senate. The committee process was largely uneventful, and his confirmation is expected to go through without incident.
“In 1992, the year I graduated from college after studying Hindi and Indian cultural and religious history, U.S.-India ties languished in the shadow of Cold War-era mistrust,” said Mayor Garcetti during his testimony in December. “The very idea of a U.S.-India strategic partnership would have been deemed laughable.”
If confirmed, Mayor Garcetti said he would, “secure its borders, defend its sovereignty, and deter aggression.”
He continued, “I acknowledge the weight and honor of responsibility as Chief of Mission for the welfare of hundreds of U.S. and thousands of locally employed staff in Embassy New Delhi and our four Consulates in India, in addition to the approximately 950,000 U.S. citizens residing in India. If confirmed, there will be no higher priority for me than the security of our Mission team and of U.S. citizens in India.”
Amidst the administration’s ongoing nominations, India has continued to be in the crosshairs of many human rights NGOs who have reported egregious violations against Christians, Muslims, and other religious minorities in India. Persecution of Christians has skyrocketed since the Modi Administration took power in 2014.
“I should hope that if confirmed, the Mayor of Los Angeles will challenge his Indian counterparts on the sorry state of India’s domestic religious freedom,” said Matias Perttula, Director of Advocacy for International Christian Concern. “The United States can no longer turn a blind eye to what’s happening in India and must confront the rising tide of Hindu nationalism and promote the safety of India for all Indians.”
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