The Ministry of External Affairs said that India requested help from the United States for investigating the Sikhs for Justice, a Khalistani group, and their secessionist campaign Referendum 2020, in the backdrop of an investigation into alleged Khalistan links in the ongoing farmers protests.
On Thursday, in its first comments on the farmers agitation, the Biden administration said: “We recognize that peaceful protests are a hallmark of any thriving democracy, and note that the Indian Supreme Court has stated the same. We encourage that any differences between the parties be resolved through dialogue.”
In a US State Department statement, the spokesperson also added that in general the United States welcomes steps that improve the efficiency of India’s market and attract greater private sector investment, indicating that the Biden administration is in favor of the farm laws.
After the comments by the State Department in Washington, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that it has noted the remarks and it is significant to see them in their entirety. It also compared the Republic Day violence to the US Capitol attack.
While speaking at a media briefing, MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said: “India and the United States are both vibrant democracies with shared values. The incidents of violence and vandalism at the historic Red Fort on 26 January have evoked similar sentiments and reactions in India as did the incidents on the Capitol Hill on January 6, and are being addressed as per our respective local laws.”
Srivastava said that the temporary measures concerning internet shutdown in certain parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) were therefore understandably undertaken to prevent further violence. He also said: “As you can see, the US has acknowledged steps being taken by India towards agricultural reforms.”
MEA on Thursday also said that India has issued a mutual legal assistance request to the United States for investigating the Sikhs for Justice, a Khalistani group, and their secessionist campaign Referendum 2020. The request has been sent to the US Department of Justice, in the backdrop of an investigation into alleged Khalistan links in the ongoing farmers protests.
As we have reported earlier, farmers protests started receiving global attention after prominent international figures took to Twitter to extend support to the ongoing farmers protest.
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