The US State Department has “recognized” the steps India is taking toward agricultural reforms, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday in its response to the former’s reaction to protests by farmers in India. He also said that any protest should be seen in the “context of India’s democratic politics and ethics, and ongoing efforts by the government and concerned farmer groups to resolve the impasse.”
The MEA said that India and the United States are two vibrant democracies with shared values. Incidents of violence, vandalism in the Red Fort on January 26 have evoked similar sentiments and reactions in India as Capitol Hill Incidentthe ministry said in its statement.
On internet restrictions on protest sites along the border, the government said it was done to prevent further violence. “Temporary measures regarding Internet access in certain parts of the NCR region were, therefore, understandably taken to prevent further violence,” he added.
The United States administration under President Joseph Biden said today that “encouraged “differences between the parties to be resolved “through dialogue.” Referring to Internet restrictions on protest sites, the US administration said it recognizes that “unimpeded access to information, including the Internet, is essential to freedom of expression and a hallmark of a prosperous democracy.”
The spokesman for the US embassy in New Delhi said: “We recognize that peaceful protests are a hallmark of any flourishing democracy, and we note that the Supreme Court of India has declared the same. We encourage differences between the parties to be resolved through dialogue. In general, the United States welcomes measures that would improve the efficiency of Indian markets and attract more investment from the private sector. “
In a highly unusual move that has drawn attention, the government on Wednesday criticized “celebrities and others” for their comments in support of the farmers’ protests, calling them “neither accurate nor responsible.”
The MEA had said: “Before we rush to comment on these matters, we urge that the facts be ascertained and a proper understanding of the issues at hand carried out. The lure of social media hashtags and tabloids, especially when used by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible. “
Defending the agricultural laws, the MEA, in its statement, had given a full description of the process: “The Parliament of India, after full debate and discussion, passed reformist legislation related to the agricultural sector. These reforms provide greater market access and provide greater flexibility to farmers. They also pave the way for economically and ecologically sustainable agriculture. “
He said that “a very small part of farmers in some parts of India have some reservations about these reforms.”
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