London: A newly announced EU–India Security and Defence Partnership has come under intense scrutiny from human rights advocates, who warn that the European Union is legitimizing India’s accelerating authoritarianism while ignoring widespread abuses against minorities, civil society, and the press.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently described India as “the world’s largest democracy” and a cornerstone of “global stability, prosperity, and security.” However, critics argue that such characterizations dangerously misrepresent India’s current political reality and risk undermining the EU’s own commitments to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
In a press release issued today, Dr. Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur, Executive Director of The Kashmir Centre and President of WKFM, said the EU’s uncritical embrace of New Delhi amounts to “active whitewashing of systematic democratic backsliding, minority persecution, and state-sponsored repression.”
“By glossing over India’s documented descent into authoritarian practices, the EU signals that geopolitical convenience outweighs universal values,” Dr. Thakur stated.
Press Freedom in Freefall
India’s declining democratic credentials are reflected starkly in global media rankings. According to the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, India stands at 151st out of 180 countries, placing it firmly in the “very serious” category.
Journalists reporting on minority rights, corruption, protests, or Kashmir face arrests under sweeping anti-terror and sedition laws, raids on newsrooms, prolonged internet shutdowns, and physical intimidation. Media ownership has increasingly consolidated among pro-government business groups, further eroding editorial independence and pluralism.
Civil Society Under Siege
Independent civil society organizations are also facing mounting pressure. Authorities have used foreign funding regulations to suspend or dismantle hundreds of NGOs, effectively silencing many human rights groups. Amnesty International was forced to shut down its Indian operations, a move widely seen as emblematic of how regulatory powers are deployed to suppress scrutiny rather than ensure transparency.
Rights advocates warn this systematic targeting has created an accountability vacuum, leaving state abuses largely unchallenged.
Escalating Persecution of Minorities
Human rights organizations report a sharp rise in discrimination and violence against religious minorities, particularly Muslims, as well as Christians and Sikhs.
Human Rights Watch’s World Report 2025 documents vigilante attacks encouraged by anti-conversion laws in at least a dozen states, the demolition of Muslim homes under so-called “bulldozer justice,” and assaults on prayer gatherings. Research groups also recorded a 13 percent rise in anti-minority hate speech during 2025, with most incidents occurring in states governed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Despite these trends, accountability remains rare. Perpetrators of communal violence often go unpunished, while victims encounter legal obstacles and further harassment.
Democracy Beyond the Ballot Box
Although India continues to hold large-scale elections, international watchdogs stress that democracy entails far more than voting. Assessments by Freedom House and V-Dem highlight India’s ongoing slide in liberal democracy rankings, citing executive overreach, weakened judicial independence, prolonged pre-trial detentions of critics, restrictions on peaceful assembly, and the routine use of national security laws against dissent.
V-Dem currently ranks India 100th out of 179 countries, reflecting what analysts describe as a steady erosion of core democratic freedoms.
Kashmir: A Model of Repression
The 2019 revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status marked a turning point, introducing prolonged lockdowns, mass detentions, internet blackouts, and intense militarization. Rights groups say the region has since served as a testing ground for repressive tactics now increasingly applied elsewhere in India.
Allegations of custodial torture, enforced disappearances, and staged encounters persist, deepening concerns over systemic abuse.
Transnational Repression Raises Alarm
Beyond its borders, India faces serious allegations of targeting activists abroad. These include the 2023 killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a foiled assassination attempt in New York, reported attacks on Kashmiri activists in London, and claims of multiple targeted killings of Kashmiris in Pakistan.
Advocates argue that such actions represent grave violations of international norms and sovereignty, yet have drawn limited public rebuke from key partners, including the EU.
Calls for Accountability in EU–India Relations
Dr. Thakur urged Brussels to move beyond rhetoric and adopt a principled approach that embeds human rights safeguards into any strategic cooperation with India.
“A values-based partnership must include binding mechanisms for monitoring abuses, transparent dialogue on democratic erosion, and real consequences for persistent violations,” he said. “Human dignity cannot be sacrificed for strategic convenience.”
As the EU deepens its engagement with India, rights groups warn that credibility is at stake. Without confronting uncomfortable realities, they argue, Europe risks diluting its moral authority on the global stage.
