New Delhi: The Biden
administration said on Thursday in its first comments on the farmers' agitation
that it supports disagreements to be resolved through dialogue and that peaceful
protests are a "hallmark" of a "thriving democracy,"
leading India to compare reactions to violence at the Red Fort to those seen
after the storming of Capitol Hill.
The US also stated that it
supports measures to increase India's markets' productivity and attract further
investment, which New Delhi interprets as an acknowledgment of the country's
agricultural reform efforts.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated
that it has taken note of the US State Department's comments and the US Embassy
in Delhi and that it needs to see them all.
“Both India and the US are
thriving democracies with similar values.
At a press conference, MEA
Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that the incidents of violence and vandalism
at the historic Red Fort on January 26 elicited similar sentiments and
reactions in India as the incidents on Capitol Hill on January 6 and that they
are being dealt with in compliance with our respective local laws.
He explained that the temporary
restrictions on internet access in some parts of the National Capital Region
(NCR) were necessary to avoid more abuse.
The MEA Spokesperson emphasized
the importance of understanding the context in which the US made its remarks.
“We have taken notice of the
US State Department's remarks. It's important to consider such remarks in their
entirety and in the sense in which they were made,” he said.
“As you'll see, the US State
Department supports India's agricultural reform efforts.” Any demonstrations,
he said, must be seen in the light of India's democratic ethos and polity, as
well as the government's and concerned farmer groups' ongoing efforts to break
the impasse.
In response to media questions
about the demonstrations, the State Department in Washington and the US embassy
in Delhi issued virtually identical statements.
“We acknowledge that peaceful
demonstrations are a hallmark of every healthy democracy, as the Indian Supreme
Court has reported. Any disputes between the parties should be addressed
through mediation, according to a US embassy spokesperson.
The government and farmer
unions have been in a deadlock for many rounds of talks. On November 28,
protests at the Delhi border to revoke three controversial agri laws enacted in
September began.
“In general, the United States
welcomes measures that would increase the productivity of India's markets and
encourage more private sector investment,” the state department official said,
suggesting that the new Biden administration supports India's agricultural
reform efforts.
In response to the issue of
internet service restrictions at protest sites, a US embassy spokesperson said,
"We understand that unlimited access to information, including the
internet, is fundamental to the freedom of expression and a hallmark of a
vibrant democracy." The new US administration's responses came on the
heels of tweets from American pop star Rihanna and climate activist Greta
Thunberg expressing solidarity for the farmers, which brought the escalating
protests into the international spotlight.
Aside from Rihanna and
Thunberg, several other notable figures have expressed their support for the
protesting farmers, including Meena Harris, an American lawyer and niece of US
Vice President Kamala Harris, actress Amanda Cerni, singers Jay Sean and Dr.
Zeus, and former porn star Mia Khalifa.
ON WEDNESDAY, the MEA said that
the "temptation" of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments
is "neither accurate nor responsible," in a strong response to the
foreign celebrities' remarks.
Srivastava also said at the
press conference that India has requested mutual legal assistance from the
United States for an inquiry into the case of ‘Sikhs for Justice and Referendum
2020.'
“As per procedure, the request
was sent directly to the US Department of Justice (DoJ) by the concerned
authorities,” he said.
Several American lawmakers have
also spoken out in support of the Indian farmer demonstrations.
Congresswoman Haley Stevens
expressed her concern about reported actions against peaceful protesters in
India opposing new agricultural reform laws.
In a tweet, she urged the
Indian government and protesting farmers' representatives to participate in
constructive dialogue.
“I will keep monitoring this
situation closely. Engaging with stakeholders from around the district on this
topic has been particularly helpful, and I am grateful to everyone who has
reached out to share their thoughts,” says the superintendent. Stevens said.
Ilhan Omar, a congresswoman
from Minnesota, shared her support for all farmers protesting for their
livelihood across India.
She wrote on Twitter,
"India must protect their basic democratic rights, allow for the free flow
of information, restore internet access, and release all journalists detained
for covering the protests."
Meena Harris said that the
world's largest democracy is under attack, referring to the farmers' protests.
The “historic” farmers' protest
is turning out to be the “biggest-ever revolution” against the Indian
government's crony capitalism, according to Gurinder Singh Khalsa, chairman of
the Sikhs Political Action Committee.
“This is the start of a
campaign against crony capitalism that demands greater accountability and
transparency. The world has been watching, and it has now begun to respond and
mobilize in support of India's historic agricultural revolution. This would be
bigger than India's independence movement,” said Khalsa, who is based in
Indiana.
The International Monetary Fund
(IMF), India's new farm regulations have the "potential to mark a major
step forward" in agricultural reforms.
“We believe the farm bills have
the potential to be a major move forward in India's agricultural reforms.
Farmers will contract directly with sellers, keep a larger share of the surplus
by reducing the position of go-betweens, improve production, and support rural
development, according to IMF Communications Director Gerry Rice, who spoke to
reporters in Washington last month.
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