New Delhi | As leading universities across the US continue to witness protests against Israeli military action in Gaza, India on Thursday said there has to be a right balance between freedom of expression, sense of responsibility and public safety in every democracy.
Hundreds of students were arrested by the US authorities with an aim to quell the protests.
"We have seen reports on the matter and have been following related events. In every democracy, there has to be the right balance between freedom of expression, sense of responsibility and public safety and order," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing.
"Democracies in particular should display this understanding in regard to other fellow democracies. Afterall, we are all judged by what we do at home and not what we say abroad," he said replying to a question.
Jaiswal said neither the Indian embassy in Washington nor any Indian consulate in the US has been approached by Indian students or their family seeking assistance regarding any disciplinary action for participation in protests in the universities.
"We expect all our citizens at home and abroad to respect local laws and regulations," he said.
Washington | President Joe Biden on Thursday defended the right to protest but insisted that “order must prevail” as college campuses across the country face unrest over the war in Gaza.
“Dissent is essential for democracy," he said at the White House. "But dissent must never lead to disorder.”
The Democratic president also said the protests have not caused him to reconsider his approach to the war. Biden has occasionally criticised Israel's conduct but continued to supply it with weapons.
Biden said the campus protests haven't prompted him to rethink his Middle East policies, and he opposes sending in National Guard.
