State Department on pro-Palestine protests in US universities

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen reports on the matter and are tracking related incidents. Every democracy must have the right balance between freedom of expression, a sense of responsibility and public safety and order. Democracies should demonstrate this understanding, especially in relation to other fellow democracies. “After all, we are all judged by what we do at home, not what we say abroad.”

Asked if this was a matter of concern for India because Indian students study in American universities, he said, “As far as your question regarding Indian students is concerned, we are always in touch with Indian students. And whenever there is an issue they have to be resolved.” It has been resolved, we will look into it.”

Colleges across the United States are grappling with growing unrest as pro-Palestinian protests spread across their campuses, leading administrators to implement unprecedented measures to deal with the escalating situation, CNN reports.

Protesters at Columbia University, where demonstrations took place last week, are demanding the severance of ties with Israeli academic institutions and complete divestment from Israel-linked institutions amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

At the University of Texas at Austin, more than 30 arrests were made during protests, while about 50 protesters were arrested at the University of Southern California after police ordered them to disperse.

Isha Karam, managing director of the Columbia Daily Spectator, has described negotiations between Columbia University officials and protesters as “untenable” regarding the removal of encampments on campus, citing student organizers. The talks have been extended for 48 hours, but the outcome remains uncertain.

“We're about halfway through the 48-hour extended deadline and we heard from student front organizers at a press conference earlier today, who told us that negotiations are going very shaky right now,” Karam told CNN.

“There's still about 24 hours until the extended deadline, but really after that, we don't really know where things are going to go,” Karam said.

The California State Polytechnic University Humboldt campus remains on lockdown as protesters, including unidentified non-students, occupy two buildings. School officials have expressed concerns over security threats and property damage, with plans to keep the campus closed for an extended period of time.

As protests escalated, US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson called for the resignation of the president of Columbia University amid ongoing demonstrations over pro-Palestinian sentiments at major US universities, CNN reported.

House Speaker Mike Johnson stressed the need for order on campus, saying that if the university president cannot restore peace, she should resign, CNN reported. However, students have expressed various viewpoints on this call for resignation, with some expressing their desire to continue working with him.