The US State Department has “acknowledged” steps being taken by India towards agricultural reforms, the Ministry of External Affairs said Thursday in its response to the former’s reaction to farmer protests in India. It also said that any protest must be seen in the “context of India’s democratic ethos and polity, and the ongoing efforts of the government and the concerned farmer groups to resolve the impasse”.
The MEA said that India and the United States are both vibrant democracies with shared values. The incidents of violence, vandalism at Red Fort on Jan 26 have evoked similar sentiments and reactions in India as the Capitol Hill incident, the ministry said in its statement.
On internet restrictions at the protest sites along the border, the government said that it was done to prevent further violence. “The temporary measures with regard to internet access in certain parts of the NCR region were therefore understandably undertaken to prevent further violence,” it added.
The US administration under President Joseph Biden earlier today said that it “encouraged” differences between the parties to be resolved “through dialogue”. Referring to internet restrictions at the protest sites, the US administration said that it recognises that “unhindered access to information, including the internet, is fundamental to the freedom of expression and a hallmark of a thriving democracy.”
Read More at https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-us-mea-farmers-protest-delhi-red-fort-violence-capitol-hill-7174752
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