India emphasizes the need for a balanced approach, subtly criticizing the US over arrests during Palestine protests.

 

 

What steps did India emphasize in response to the arrests during pro-Palestine protests in US universities, and what did External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlight regarding the judgments of democracies?

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal underscored the necessity of finding an appropriate equilibrium among freedom of expression, accountability, and upholding public safety and order.India underscored the necessity of striking a delicate balance between freedom of expression and maintaining public safety and order in response to the arrest of hundreds of individuals during pro-Palestine protests at prominent US universities. 

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, implicitly referencing criticisms of India's human rights and political situation from various quarters of the US government, emphasized that the actions of democracies are primarily judged by their domestic actions rather than their foreign statements. The demonstrations, which originated at Columbia University last week, have called for universities and the US government to sever ties with Israeli educational institutions and halt the supply of weapons to the Israeli military. Despite the Biden administration's defense of its provision of military equipment to Israel following last year's attacks by Hamas, which resulted in significant casualties, thousands have been killed in the Israeli military's bombardment of Gaza, leading to pro-Palestine protests in cities across the US, UK, and several European countries. Jaiswal reassured that Indian authorities are closely monitoring the situation and maintaining communication with Indian students in the US. 

Dismissing a US State Department annual report critical of India's human rights record as biased and lacking comprehension of the country's intricacies, Jaiswal highlighted alleged abuses in Manipur and attacks on minorities, journalists, and dissenting voices.