There has to be right balance between freedom of expression, public order: India on US campus protests

The MEA 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.

Protesters gather at the University of California Los Angeles

Law enforcement officers detain a demonstrator, as they clear out the protest encampment in support of Palestinians at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 2, 2024. (REUTERS)

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.

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“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.

Also read | Campus protests against law, no place for anti-semitism or hate speech: Biden

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.

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