The demonstrations, largely driven by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, have been triggered by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. They have spread from Columbia University to several other prominent institutions such as Harvard University, the University of Texas, and Yale University, among others.
In response to the pro-Palestine protests sweeping through various universities in the United States, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has emphasized the importance of maintaining a delicate equilibrium between freedom of expression, responsibility, and public safety. The MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, highlighted this stance during a weekly briefing, stating, "In every democracy, there has to be the right balance between freedom of expression, sense of responsibility, and public safety and order."
The demonstrations, largely driven by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, have been triggered by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. They have spread from Columbia University to several other prominent institutions such as Harvard University, the University of Texas, and Yale University, among others.
The protests, demanding divestment from entities linked to Israel, have disrupted normal activities on campuses, leading some universities to resort to virtual classes and resulting in clashes between students and law enforcement.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal assured that India remains in touch with Indian students studying in US universities and pledged to address any issues linked to them. Moreover, reiterating India's support for a two-nation solution to the Israel-Palestine issue, the spokesperson emphasized the establishment of a sovereign state of Palestine with recognized borders.
Amidst the protests, the White House affirmed President Biden's support for free speech and debate on college campuses. However, concerns have been raised regarding the arrests of over a hundred students and accusations of antisemitism by Jewish students.
India's intervention in the issue underscores its stance on democratic values and the importance of maintaining a balanced approach in addressing sensitive global issues. Additionally, the MEA spokesperson dismissed the recent US State Department Report on Human Rights as "deeply biased," emphasizing a lack of understanding of India and urging others to disregard it.
The protests reflect growing global attention on the Israel-Palestine conflict and the imperative for constructive dialogue and actions towards a peaceful resolution.
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Abhay an alumnus of IIMC and Delhi University, has over a decade long experience of reporting on various beats of journalism. During his free time he prefers listening to music or play indoor and outdoor games.