The White House strongly criticised the online harassment faced by the Wall Street Journal reporter Sabrina Siddiqui who asked PM Modi a question on his plans to uphold democracy in India during a press event on June 22.
What did the White House say?
According to John Kirby, the U.S. National Security Council chief for strategic communication said at a press briefing that the White House was aware of the reports of harassment.
“It’s unacceptable, and we absolutely condemn any harassment of journalists anywhere under any circumstances,” Mr. Kirby said adding that it was “antithetical to the very principles of democracy that were on display last week during the state visit”, Kirby said.
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Shortly after Mr. Kirby’s remarks on June 26, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also reiterated the similar message regarding the incident.
“We’re committed to the freedom of the press, which is why we had the press conference last week,” the Press Secretary said.
“We certainly condemn any efforts of intimidation or harassment of any journalist that is trying to do their job,” Ms. Jean-Pierre said.
Ms. Jean-Pierre was asked if Mr. Biden had accepted Mr. Modi’s answer to the question on rights in India.
“I think that is for the Prime Minister to answer and for— for all you all to critique or write about it. I’m not going to discuss that from here,” she said.
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In her statement, she also added that the Biden administration was committed to freedom of the press and that was the reason the White House thought it was important that the press hear from not just Mr. Biden but also Mr. Modi.
Why Siddiqui faced flak online?
The controversy initiated when Wall Street Journal reporter Sabrina Siddiqui asked PM Modi a question regarding his plans to protect minority rights, and the rights of Muslims and uphold free speech in India.
To answer her question, PM Modi defended democratic values in India in his response.
Ms. Siddiqui was trolled online including about her motives and her heritage following the event.
“Since some have chosen to make a point of my personal background, it feels only right to provide a fuller picture. Sometimes identities are more complex than they seem,” Ms. Siddiqui had tweeted on June 24, with photos of herself in an Indian cricket team shirt and another of her (in Team India colours) and her father, watching India win the 2011 Cricket World Cup, as per the photo caption.
