Modi made the remarks at a leader-level plenary of the second Summit for Democracy hosted by the US. When US state department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel was asked at a media briefing this week whether Gandhi’s expulsion from Parliament was consistent with democratic values, he replied: “Respect for the rule of law and judicial independence is a cornerstone of any democracy and we’re watching Mr Gandhi’s case in Indian courts, and we engage with the government of India on our shared commitment to democratic values, including. ”Patel also said the US continues to highlight the importance of democratic principles and protection of human rights, including freedom of expression, as a “key to strengthening both our democracies”