The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India commented on the pro-Palestine protests occurring at various universities in the US, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a balance between freedom of expression, responsibility, and public safety in every democracy. This statement followed the arrest of at least 34 students at the University of Texas's Austin campus during protests urging the university to divest from manufacturers supplying weapons to Israel.
The protests were sparked by the arrest of student protesters at Columbia University, where the university's President called in the New York Police to clear tents set up by students demanding divestment from Israel-related investments.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the ministry is monitoring the events and highlighted the need for democracies to understand and respect each other's perspectives. He also assured that the ministry is in touch with Indian students involved in the protests and will address any issues they encounter.
The spokesperson's remarks could be interpreted as a response to comments made by the US government regarding the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate. The Indian government had expressed strong objections to the US government's remarks and summoned a US diplomat to convey its concerns.
