Universities are laboratories of thoughts, says US Ambassador Richard Verma

NEW DELHI: In comments that assume significance in the backdrop of the crisis roiling Jawaharlal Nehru University and the raging debate on nationalism, US Ambassador Richard Verma on Monday said "universities are laboratories for thoughts" and that the "hallmark of democracies like India and America are diversity of thought and speech".

Without making any direct reference to JNU and the uproar over the arrest of its students’ union president on charges of sedition, Verma said college campuses in India and the US present diverse viewpoints. Referring to Indian and American constitutions, he said speech is the central tenet to both democracies.

Verma, however, steered clear of making any controversial remark during an interaction on India-US strategic ties.

Asked about his thoughts on the current debate on sedition in India, he said India and the US share values and mentioned the diversity in India.

"It is hard to find a country more diverse than India. I have travelled to over 20 towns in India and this country presents huge diversity," the US envoy said .

Asked about the impact of the ongoing Jat agitation in Haryana on American businesses in the country, Verma said all businesses — both Indian as well as American — require stability. He, however, expressed optimism about US businesses in India which have grown substantially in 2015.

He said there are 500 US companies in India and the two countries are hoping that bilateral trade will reach $500 billion a year.

"America is also awaiting serious negotiations to start on Bilateral Investment Treaty," Verma said.

The US envoy also said Pakistan can and should do more to fight terror and safe havens. "There should be zero tolerance for terrorism," he said, notwithstanding Washington’s recent decision to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, which drew protests by India. "India-US defence ties are qualitatively and quantitatively different from any other country in South Asia. India-US ties are independent of Pakistan," Verma said.

He also announced that US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter will visit India in April.

In an indirect reference to China’s aggression in Asia-Pacific, Verma said the US and India have aligned interests in the Asia-Pacific region and in freedom of seas to ensure stability.