Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The United States on Monday commented on the crackdown by the Indian security forces on self-proclaimed guru Baba Ramdev and his followers at the Ramlila Grounds in New Delhi, calling it an ‘internal Indian issue.’
Asked to compare the Indian crackdown in Delhi with the Tiananmen Square in China, State Department spokesman Mark Toner told journalists, “I’m not going to draw parallels between the two cases.”
“We have seen the various media reports about the incident (Ramlila Maidan). We consider it an internal Indian issue at this point,” Toner said at the regular State Department briefing on Monday.
“Speaking more broadly, though, we do support the right to peaceful assembly, but we also support a democratic government’s right to require permits and enforce public security. But, again, we believe it’s an internal matter for the Indian government,” he said.
Without denouncing the action by the police, Toner added, “Obviously, we support the right to peaceful assembly, but there’s an equal obligation on the part of the protesters or those assembled to have the necessary permits.”
Calling attention to a thriving democracy in India, Toner said that it is important to recognize that India, as world’s largest democracy has responsibility to allow these peaceful protesters to express their views.
“But equally, there’s a responsibility on the part of the protesters to do so in a responsible fashion and with the requisite security requirements,” he said.
There was widespread anger and discontent among the Indians in the U.S. and Bhavana Shinde, spokeswoman for “Forum For Hindu Awakening” (a U.S. based non-profit organization) told AHN, “Many of the people here of Indian origin are aghast at the savagery committed by the Indian Congress government against Baba Ramdev’s peaceful agitation. They have supported this movement and we will continue to support this movement.”
Earlier on Sunday afternoon, Indian students submitted a memorandum addressed to the Indian President at the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C., condemning the police action.
Standing in the shadow of Mahatma Gandhi statue in front of the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C., Pradeep, one of the students told AHN, “As an Indian American living in United States I feel very sad very shocked and very upset at the Indian government for taking this action.”
“This is people’s rights people’s fundamental constitutional rights. We have actually submitted a memorandum here at the Indian Embassy and we hope that the voice of the Indian American people half way around the world is heard,” Pradeep added.
Priya, a girl student at the demonstration in Washington D.C. said, “It was very shocking. This is not how we expect the government to react to a peaceful protest.”
The submitted memorandum read, “We, as students and responsible citizens of India, unequivocally condemn this act by the Government of India.”
“Unarmed people of all age groups, including women, children and elderly, were tear-gassed, lathicharged and pounded upon by police forces. This use of force on a peaceful protest by the government seems to have justified the point of some sections which use violence in order to be heard,” the memorandum said.
Ashutosh, another student at the memorandum submission said, “If people can t even do a peaceful protest, what else people can do in a democracy?” “The way the Government of India has taken actions against peaceful protesters is completely unacceptable,” he said.
The memorandum was signed by Indian students at University of Maryland (UMD), and represented three different organizations – Indian Student Groups at UMD, College Park; DESI (Develop, Empower and Synergize India) and Students Council of India.
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