Europe’s Moral Collapse: Trading Human Rights for Indian Markets

The European Union’s “New Strategic EU-India Agenda” of September 17, 2025, is a major moral failure. This deal, including a Free Trade Agreement, prioritizes profit over people. It deliberately ignores India’s widespread human rights abuses and its illegal territorial claims, betraying millions who suffer under the Modi regime.

A Strategy of Moral Compromise

This partnership is built on a cold calculation of profit, not shared values. The EU is showing complete indifference to the brutal reality of Modi’s India just to gain market access.

♦ Prioritizing Profit Over Principles: This agenda shows that for the EU, economic interests now completely outweigh any real commitment to human rights.

♦ A Deliberate Blind Eye to Oppression: The EU must knowingly ignore mountains of evidence of Indian suppression, making Brussels a partner in cleaning up the regime’s image.

The Facade of Indian ‘Democracy’

The EU is pretending India is still a democracy, but this is a myth. Under the BJP, India is rapidly weakening its own foundations and crushing all forms of opposition.

♦ Weakening Democratic Institutions: The courts are weakened and the press is no longer free. Journalists and critics face harassment, raids, and jail time.

♦ The Silencing of Civil Society: Human rights groups and activists who speak out are targeted, their funding is blocked, and their voices are silenced.

Weaponizing Laws Against Dissent

The Indian state uses its legal system to crush all opposition. The EU’s new agenda gives silent approval to these harsh tools of suppression.

♦ The Tyranny of the UAPA Law: The UAPA law is used to jail activists, journalists, and students without trial, often on fake charges of terrorism.

♦ AFSPA’s Shield of Protection: The AFSPA law gives Indian forces complete legal protection for extrajudicial killings, torture, and random detentions in troubled regions.

The State-Backed Persecution of Minorities

The EU is ignoring the horrifying situation of India’s religious minorities. It is partnering with a state that enables and encourages the persecution of its own citizens.

♦ Widespread Violence Against Muslims: Under the BJP, Muslims face constant threats, lynchings by state backed mobs, and see their homes and businesses bulldozed by authorities.

♦ The Targeting of Christians: The Christian community also faces sharp increases in violence. Pastors are attacked, churches are damaged, and prayer meetings are broken up by extremists.

Normalizing the Illegal Occupation of Kashmir

In a clear violation of international principles, the EU deal includes all Indian states, which New Delhi claims includes Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. This is a direct challenge to international law.

♦ A Clear Breach of International Law: The EU knows the UN recognized disputed status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). Including it in this deal is a shocking violation.

♦ Supporting an Illegal Claim: By signing this, the EU is supporting India’s one sided and illegal actions. It sends a message that military occupation can be normalized.

A Direct Threat to Pakistan’s Interests

This deal is a calculated move to empower India against its neighbors. It poses a direct threat to the economic and security interests of Pakistan.

♦ Harming Regional Stability: The EU is arming India economically and politically, upsetting the region’s tense balance and encouraging Indian aggression.

♦ The GSP Plus Ploy: This partnership helps India lobby against Pakistan. New Delhi is already pressuring the EU to rethink Pakistan’s GSP+ status, a vital lifeline for its economy.

The Collapse of European Credibility

With this agreement, the EU has sacrificed its identity as a global champion of human rights. The cost of this trade deal is the EU’s own credibility, which now lies in ruins.

♦ Abandoning Human Rights Principles: The EU can no longer lecture the world on democracy when it is actively rewarding a state that stomps on those very principles.

♦ A Dangerous Global Example: This deal sends a cold message to dictators worldwide. It signals that all human rights abuses, no matter how bad, will be overlooked for the right price.

Legitimizing Systemic Abuse

At its core, this strategic agenda is an act of support for India’s actions. It is a political statement from the EU that India’s widespread and well known human rights abuses are acceptable.

♦ Rewarding a Human Rights Violator: Instead of holding India responsible, the EU is rewarding it with special trade and investment deals.

♦ A Betrayal of the Victims: This agreement is a direct betrayal of the activists, minorities, and especially the people of Kashmir, who looked to Europe as a protector of justice.

Conclusion

The EU-India Strategic Agenda is a dark chapter in diplomacy, built on moral collapse. This is not just a trade agreement; it is an endorsement of oppression. It comforts a regime that persecutes minorities, crushes dissent, and illegally occupies territory. The EU is risking its own credibility to become involved in these violations, a permanent stain that trade money will never wash away.