U.S. envoy bats for right to dissent

Sushma Swaraj said India will always assist its neighbour and never become a source of difficulties.

Supporting the right to dissent and political disagreement in JNU, U.S. Ambassador Richard Verma on Monday described “diversity and debates” as the “hallmark” of academic life in the United States and India.

“Both Indian and American Constitutions begin with ‘We the people’.

Both the Constitutions guarantee minority rights, and we both celebrate diversity on our college campuses,” said Mr. Verma while describing varsity campuses as “laboratories” of freedom and debate.

Mr. Verma also took note of the violent protests in Haryana and said developments that created instability and insecurity were of mutual concern to India and the United States.