We support importance of free press around the world: U.S. on India banning BBC documentary on PM Modi
The Hindu
The U.S. State Department said that it is high time to highlight the importance of democratic principles like freedom of expression and make it a point around the world as well as in India
Describing India banning the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a matter of press freedom, the U.S. State Department said that it is high time to highlight the importance of democratic principles like freedom of expression and make it a point around the world as well as in India.
Ned Price, the U.S. State Department spokesperson, in a regular briefing on Wednesday, underlined that Washington supports free press around the world and that it is a matter of utmost importance to highlight democratic principles like freedom of expression.
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Responding to a media query, Mr. Price said, "We support the importance of a free press around the world. We continue to highlight the importance of democratic principles, such as freedom of expression, freedom of religion or belief, as human rights that contribute to the strengthening of our democracies. This is a point we make in our relationships around the world. It's certainly a point we've made in India as well."
Earlier, addressing a press briefing on Monday (local time), Mr. Price stated that there are numerous elements that bolster the US' global strategic partnership with India which include political, economic and exceptionally deep people-to-people ties.
"I'm not familiar with the documentary you're referring to. I am very familiar with the shared values that enact the United States and India as two thriving, vibrant democracies. When we have concerns about actions that are taken in India, we've voiced those we've had an occasion to do that," he said.
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