Every democracy must have balance: India on pro-Palestine protests in US campuses
Pro-Palestine protests have swept across multiple universities in the US, including Ivy League schools like Harvard and Yale. Reacting to the demonstrations, India on Thursday said that every democracy must have the "right balance between freedom of expression, sense of responsibility and public safety and order".
In Short
- Pro-Palestine protests spread across US universities
- 34 students arrested at University of Texas's Austin campus
- MEA spokesperson comments on need for balance in democracies
The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday commented on the pro-Palestine protests taking place at multiple universities in the US and said every democracy must have the "right balance between freedom of expression, sense of responsibility and public safety and order".
The remark by the MEA came hours after at least 34 students were arrested at the University of Texas's Austin campus for protests demanding that the varsity divest from manufacturers supplying Israel with weapons in its ongoing war with Gaza.
The slew of protests across universities in the US was triggered by the arrest of student protesters at Columbia University and the varsity's President Nemat Minouche Shafik calling in the New York Police to clear the tents set up by the students who demanded the school divest from Israel-related investments.
When asked about the pro-Palestine protests in US universities, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the ministry is following the events and added, "In every democracy, there has to be the right balance between freedom of expression, sense of responsibility and public safety and order. Democracies in particular should display this understanding in regard to other fellow democracies. After all, we are all judged by what we do at home and not what we see abroad."
He added that the ministry is in touch with Indian students and it will look into any issues when they need to be resolved.
The spokesperson's remarks can be seen as a jibe at the US following comments made by Washington after the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate. The US government had said they are "closely monitoring" the developments after Kejriwal's arrest and encouraged a "fair, transparent, and timely legal process".
Afterwards, the Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena to its office and said the Indian government "strongly objects" to the remarks made by the US.