PM concerned over Brazil violence: Respect democratic traditions

The supporters of far-right leader Bolsonaro, who refuse to accept his election defeat, stormed the Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace in the Brazilian capital Sunday

Protesters, supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro, sit in front of police inside the Planalto Palace, in Brasilia, on Sunday. (Photo: AP)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday expressed “deep concern” over reports of rioting in Brazil by supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro and asserted democratic traditions must be respected by everyone.

The supporters of far-right leader Bolsonaro, who refuse to accept his election defeat, stormed the Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace in the Brazilian capital Sunday, a week after the inauguration of his leftist rival, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Modi tweeted on Monday, “Deeply concerned about the news of rioting and vandalism against the State institutions in Brasilia. Democratic traditions must be respected by everyone. We extend our full support to the Brazilian authorities.”

Deeply concerned about the news of rioting and vandalism against the State institutions in Brasilia. Democratic traditions must be respected by everyone. We extend our full support to the Brazilian authorities. @LulaOficial

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 9, 2023

This is not the first that Modi has commented on such reports of violence. In January 2021, when the US Capitol in Washington DC was stormed by then US president Donald Trump’s supporters on what they called was a rigged election and its outcome, the prime minister had condemned the violence at that time.

After the January 6 incident, Modi had condemned the violence and the storming of the US Capitol, saying “orderly and peaceful transfer of power must continue”.

Taking to Twitter, the prime minister had said, “Distressed to see news about rioting and violence in Washington DC. Orderly and peaceful transfer of power must continue. The democratic process cannot be allowed to be subverted through unlawful protests.”

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