The unprecedented vandalism unleashed by supporters of the US President Donald Trump has outraged not only America but also sparked condemnation from leaders around the world. The incident is also seen as the darkest period in the American history.
The rioters staged an insurrection at the US Capitol building in Washington DC on January 6, storming the debating chambers and clashing with the armed police, resulting in at least four casualties and multiple injuries and interrupting the constitutional process. “This is not dissent. It’s disorder. It’s chaos. It borders on sedition and it must end now”, said US President-elect Joe Biden.“We condemn the violence that took place here in the strongest possible terms. We grieve the loss of life in these hallowed halls, as well as the injuries suffered by those who defended our Capitol today. And we will always be grateful to the men and women who stayed at their posts to defend this historic place”, said Vice President Mike Pence.
“As we reconvene in this chamber, the world will again witness the resilience and strength of our democracy, for even in the wake of unprecedented violence and vandalism at this capitol, the elected representatives of the people of the United States have assembled again on the very same day to support and defend the constitution of the united states”, Pence added.
“It is shameful and despicable, but it will not prevent the lawmakers from carrying their constitutional duties”, said House Majority Leader Steny H Hoye.”This is a dark day in our nation’s history, but our democracy will prevail”, he added.There are people who have violently entered the U.S. Capitol and are attempting to disrupt today’s proceedings. This is supposed to be a peaceful transition of power. What they’re doing is absolutely wrong. It is un-American. This is about our country; it’s not about hooligans, tweeted U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy .
Modi “Distressed”
In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for peaceful transfer of power. “Distressed to see news about rioting and violence in Washington DC. Orderly and peaceful transfer of power must continue. The democratic process cannot be allowed to be subverted through unlawful protests,” tweeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.“Brand America has been been damaged irrevocably by this act of mass vandalism, instigated by an elected American president. It will now take a lot of heavylifting by President-elect Biden to shore up the battered image of America,” said Manish Chand, Editor-in-Chief of India Writes Network and the influential India and the World magazine.
World Horrified
“On the United States and the election, I want to say that all my life America has stood for some very important things — an idea of freedom and an idea of democracy. And … so far as he encouraged people to storm the Capitol and insofar as the President has consistently cast doubt on the outcome of a free and fair election, I believe that that was completely wrong,” said UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“President Trump and several members of Congress bear substantial responsibility for developments,” tweeted Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven. “The democratic election process must be respected.”Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was quick to denounce Trump as a “sick person” who had disgraced his country. “What happened in the US shows how fragile Western democracy is,” he said. “Despite all their scientific and industrial achievements, we see a huge influence of populism. When a sick person takes office, we see how he disgraces his country and creates troubles for the world.”
“What we are now seeing from Washington is a completely unacceptable attack on democracy in the United States. President Trump is responsible for stopping this. Scary pictures, and amazing that this is the United States,” wrote Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
(Palak Chhabra and Shweta Aggarwal contributed inputs for this article)
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