New York, December 11
US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Republican Party activist and American-born Harmeet Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. Dhillon, who is also a supporter of farmers’ protests in India and has been raising the issue of ‘Bhatri Death Squads’. “In her new role at the Justice Department, she will be a tireless defender of our constitutional rights and will enforce our civil rights and election laws with fairness and determination,” Trump said.
Trump also noted that she is a “respected member of the Sikh religious community”. Dhillon has supported the protest of farmers on social media X
Referring to his family’s involvement in agriculture, Dhillon said in another post, “I stand with #FarmersProtests”! He also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet the protesters and reach an agreement.
“As a native of Punjab, it breaks my heart to see Punjabi farmers being attacked for opposing the Indian government’s pro-corporate farm bill,” he said. It will destroy their farms, way of life and culture. Prime Minister listen to them, meet them, compromise.
The position of Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights does not have direct international responsibilities and does not oversee the two controversial cases involving India. The ongoing case alleging conspiracy against the Khalistanis would not fall under his purview as it would be the domain of the Assistant Attorney General of the National Security Division.
The reference to “death squads” was an apparent reference to a case filed against an Indian national and a former RAW officer accusing them of conspiring to kill a separatist activist in the US.
If her appointment is approved by the Senate, Dhillon will become the second Indian American to hold the highest civil rights office after Vanita Gupta.– IANS