Biden likely to raise human rights issues concerning Muslims with Modi

TIL Desk/World/New York/ US President Joe Biden’s spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre has left open the possibility that as a “straight-shooter”, he may raise human rights issues concerning Muslims with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when they speak during the launch of the Middle East Quad in Israel next month.

“He’s a straight-shooter, he has no problem talking to leaders about humanitarian rights, about freedoms, about the importance of democracy,” she said on Wednesday when a reporter asked at her daily briefing if Biden would take up with Modi the demolition of the houses of some Muslims linked to protests. “This is something that the President has done in the past,” she added.

However, Jean-Pierre qualified the assertion by saying: “I can’t speak too clearly to what is on the agenda and what is their conversation going to be.” Repeatedly pressed by the reporter, she said: “I’m just saying the President a is a straight shooter a and speaks very frankly, and when it comes to humanitarian rights, has no problem having those direct conversations.” Protests have broken out in several places in India over statements made by former BJP officials.