US acknowledged agricultural reform steps by India: MEA

Amid a war of words on Twitter where Indian celebrities expressed solidarity with the country in response to Rihanna and Thunberg's tweets in support of protesting farmers against the Indian government's agriculture laws, a State Department spokesperson was quoted in media saying: "We recognise that peaceful protests are a hallmark of any thriving democracy and note that the Indian Supreme Court has stated the same."

The spokesperson also welcomed the agricultural reforms brought by the Narendra Modi government in India in a way saying, "In general, the United States welcomes steps that would improve the efficiency of India’s markets and attract greater private sector investment."

In response, the Indian External Affairs Ministry said: "We have taken note of comments of the US State Department," adding that "It is important to see such comments in the context in which they were made and in their entirety."

"As you can see, the US state department has acknowledged steps being taken by India towards agricultural reforms," MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in a statement to media.

He said any protests must be seen in the context of India’s democratic ethos and polity, and the "ongoing efforts of the Government and the concerned farmer groups to resolve the impasse."

Citing the incident of Capitol Hill riots in US on Jan 6, 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 6 January and are being addressed as per our respective local laws."

Speaking on the government's decision to block the internet services along the Delhi border, the epicentre of farmers' protest, Srivastava said: "The temporary measures with regard to internet access in certain parts of the NCR region were therefore understandably undertaken to prevent further violence."

The US government's statements came after several former Indian cricketers and Hindi film industry personalities, who are massively popular among 1.3 billion Indians, favoured the resolution of the stalemate without any foreign interference.

Almost with the same Twitter hashtags, cricketers legends Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, current Indian captain Virat Kohli, Bollywood celebrities like Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn tweeted standing in solidarity with the country.

Prior to the series of tweets posted by the popular Indian personalities, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called the "social media hashtags and comments" by celebrities "neither accurate nor responsible".

In a strong-worded response, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had said, "Before rushing to comment on such matters, we would urge that the facts be ascertained, and a proper understanding of the issues at hand be undertaken.

"The temptation of sensionalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible."

Srivastava had alleged some "vested interest groups" are trying to "mobilise international support against India".

"Instigated by such fringe elements, Mahatma Gandhi statues have been desecrated in parts of the world. This is extremely disturbing for India and civilised society everywhere," he had added.