U.S. Secretary of State Dismisses UN Experts Views on Protests in India as Internal Matter

Mumbai, October 21 (Daily Kiran) : U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during his visit to India, declined to comment on the ongoing protests involving opposition and students, labeling them as an internal matter for the country. Speaking with American media, Rubio shared his views, which were aired by Fox News on Wednesday. He criticized United Nations experts while praising India’s democratic system.

When asked about the protests and the UN’s criticisms, Rubio responded with a laugh, stating, “UN experts… are my favorites. They are a contradiction in themselves.” He emphasized that the protests represent a domestic political issue, asserting, “I will not involve myself in their politics. There is democracy here, and elections take place. I won’t comment on their internal political matters. We have protests in America every day.”

Rubio distinguished between protests and riots, clarifying, “I’m not talking about riots, like what you see in Europe, where there is vandalism and buildings are being burned. In many ways, people expressing themselves is a sign that this is a country where political discourse exists and differences are acknowledged.”

He drew a comparison to Cuba, stating, “As you mentioned, there is opposition here, but in Cuba, there is no opposition that can act without facing imprisonment, repression, or exile. We will not comment on internal political matters; it’s up to the people of India to decide.”

Rubio arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday with his wife, Janet. As per his schedule, he met with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar later that evening. The two engaged in extensive discussions covering topics from defense to energy security. Rubio later expressed optimism that a trade deal between the U.S. and India would be finalized soon.