As protests against Israeli military actions in Gaza continue to unfold across prominent US universities, Bharat articulated its stance on Thursday, emphasising the necessity of striking a balance between freedom of expression, responsibility, and public safety within democratic frameworks.
Amid efforts by US authorities to quell the protests, hundreds of students have been detained.
“We have observed the developments and are closely monitoring the situation. In every democracy, there has to be the right balance between freedoms of expression, a sense of responsibility, and maintaining public safety and order,” remarked External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during his weekly media briefing.
Jaiswal highlighted the importance of democracies exhibiting such understanding, particularly toward their counterparts. “After all, we are all judged by what we do at home and not what we say abroad,” he added in response to inquiries.
Regarding Indian students potentially involved in the protests, Jaiswal noted that neither the Indian embassy in Washington nor any Indian consulate in the US has received requests for assistance from students or their families concerning disciplinary actions resulting from participation in the demonstrations.
“We expect all our citizens, both at home and abroad, to abide by local laws and regulations,” Jaiswal affirmed.
