Thread by @FriedrichPieter

Amidst all the bad, what was the best thing that happened this year for human rights in India?

I'll start.

Two things come immediately to mind, and they both happened outside of India.

First, Sri Preston Kulkarni, whose campaign was floated by the RSS's #2 man in America, who out-raised his opponent by millions, who was predicted to win by five points, who was a darling of his party running for an open seat, lost because of his support from the RSS.

Second, Australian Senator @janet_rice made history when she became perhaps the first national-level politician to ever speak against the RSS on the floor of the legislature, calling it "a fascist organisation that openly admits admiration for Adolf Hitler."

Third, Seattle became the first city in America, thanks to efforts spear-headed by @cmkshama, to pass a resolution against the discriminatory CAA/NRC, despite RSS in America mobilizing hundreds to pack out city council chambers, dominate the floor, and monopolize the public mic.

Fourth, MP @sannekurz of the Bavarian State Parliament in Germany listened to her constituents and withdrew from participation in an event sponsored by RSS's international wing — both a blow to the group as well as a chance to inform MP Kurz about the RSS and situation in India.

Fifth, @Cavach_EU_IN conducted multiple interviews with national-level MPs in Germany, leading to at least two MPs, on camera, unconditionally denouncing association with the RSS, including one calling it "fascist group, which acts with hatred, which acts with violence."

Sixth, protests in India against CAA/NRC lit a fire in the Indian diaspora, leading to the creation of countless interfaith, secular, and pluralistic diaspora organizations around the world who are working for Indian human rights, including @Cavach_EU_IN and @HumanismProject.

Seventh, @RoKhanna, who made history and international headlines in 2019 for taking a public stand against Hindu nationalism and has further spoken out against CAA/NRC, was appointed co-chair of the powerful Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.

Eighth, Tulsi Gabbard, whose congressional career was launched with support from RSS in America, was once co-chair of the India Caucus, and worked to whitewash Modi, unsurprisingly lost her bid for president but more surprisingly opted not to run for re-election to Congress.

Ninth, Donald Trump, a friend of Modi who even participated in a "Namaste Trump" mega-rally held in Gujarat at the same time the RSS conducted a pogrom in Delhi, lost his bid for re-election to the presidency to Biden/Harris, both of whom have spoken for human rights in India.

Tenth, the Overseas Friends of the BJP USA, which has been a backbone of support for election of the BJP in India and promotion of its agenda in America, was compelled to register as a "foreign agent" after 29 years in operation.