Expressing sadness over the violence in Delhi, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that Mahatma Gandhi's spirit is needed more than ever as it is essential to create conditions for a true community reconciliation.
Guterres has expressed sadness over the casualties following the protests in Delhi, and called for maximum restraint and for violence to be avoided, the UN chief's spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Thursday, 27 February.
"The Secretary-General has been following the situation in India and... concerning the violence closely and is saddened by the reports of deaths that we've seen over the past few days in New Delhi and again reiterates, as he's done in other places, his calls for maximum restraint and for violence to be avoided," Dujarric said.
“Throughout his life, the Secretary-General has been deeply inspired by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. And today the spirit of Gandhi is needed more than ever and it is essential to create conditions for true community reconciliation.”Stephane Dujarric, UN chief’s spokesman.
Dujarric was responding to a question on whether the Secretary General has any comment on the riots in parts of New Delhi over the new citizenship law and if he has communicated with the Indian Government.
Earlier Dujarric had said that Guterres is closely following the situation in New Delhi and stressed that demonstrators should be allowed to demonstrate peacefully and security forces should show restraint.
Communal violence over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in northeast Delhi killed at least 34 people and left over 200 injured till Thursday, 27 February as police struggled to check the rioters who ran amok on streets, burning and looting shops, pelting stones and thrashing people.
Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar on Thursday, 27 February said law enforcement agencies are working on the ground to prevent violence and ensure restoration of confidence and normalcy.
“Senior representatives of the government have been involved in that process. The prime minister has publicly appealed for peace and brotherhood. We would urge that irresponsible comments are not made at this sensitive time.”Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
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