Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has praised the Indian community abroad as peace-loving, saying Indians "don't go on the streets and create disturbance to society", Hindustan Times reported on Monday.
Goyal made the remarks at an interaction with the Indian diaspora in Berlin. He was in Germany from October 22 to 24 on an official visit focused on trade, investment and industrial cooperation.
What Goyal said
"Good part is you are very wanted, very welcome here. They know you don't indulge in vandalism. They know you don't go on the streets and create disturbance to society, like we are seeing in other parts of Europe," Goyal said. "They know that the Indian people and the Indian community are peace-loving. They live with their families, they care for their families."
He added that there may be some exceptions that are "beyond our control".
He also said Indians living abroad could help children in India through mentorship, digital training and career guidance.
The protests he referred to
His comments come as protests sweep parts of Europe:
- In France, students and young people have been protesting over the cost of living, wages and public services. Citing Reuters, HT said 70,000 police officers were deployed, 1,314 people were arrested and about 50 officers were injured in clashes.
- France's interior ministry put the number of people at rallies against the government at about 410,000.
- In Italy, protests on October 24 over the war and rising living costs led to clashes with police in Turin, Rome and Bologna, while demonstrations in Milan stayed peaceful.
Background
Goyal's Germany visit focused on trade, investment and industrial ties. The HT report does not say exactly when during the visit the diaspora interaction took place.