On Thursday, the U.S. embassy in New Delhi called on India’s government to resume talks with farmers whose months-long protests over agricultural reforms erupted into violence last week.
“We recognize that peaceful protests are a hallmark of any thriving democracy, and note that the Indian Supreme Court has stated the same,” the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.
“We encourage that any differences between the parties be resolved through dialogue. In general, the United States welcomes steps that would improve the efficiency of India's markets and attract greater private sector investment,” it added in the statement.
“We recognize that unhindered access to information, including the Internet, is fundamental to the freedom of expression and a hallmark of a thriving democracy.”
On Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs reacted strongly to the celebrities’ comments, criticizing the “sensationalist social media hashtags” and urging “the facts be ascertained.”
The Ministry stated that it had “taken note” of the comments and underlined ongoing efforts between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and farmers groups to resolve the situation.
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