A day after the USA backed the new farm laws of India and favoured resolving the ongoing agitation through dialogue, New Delhi on Thursday said the US has acknowledged steps taken towards agricultural reforms in the country.

Making this assertion here, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, “We have taken note of comments of the US State Department. 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.  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.”

He also 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 January 26 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.

The temporary measures with regard to internet access in certain parts of the NCR were therefore understandably undertaken to prevent further violence, Srivastava said.

The Spokesperson’s observations were in response to the US State Department terming the farm laws as welcome steps that will “improve the efficiency” of Indian markets and attract greater private sector investment. As regards the ongoing farmers’ agitation, a State Department spokesperson said Washington recognises that “peaceful protests are a hallmark of any thriving democracy.”