The Indian Embassy in Rome on Monday asked Indian nationals to exercise caution and avoid crowded areas due to protests and demonstrations across several cities in Italy. The protest against right-wing leader Giorgia Meloni comes at a time when multiple European countries are facing similar protests.
The embassy, in a social media post, said there were protests and demonstrations last week in some Italian cities. "We advise Indian nationals to exercise caution, avoid crowded areas and locations where protests are taking place and follow local news about such events," it said.
It further said that in case of an emergency, Indian nationals could contact the embassy office in Rome at +39 331 614 2085 and the Consulate General of India in Milan at +39 3881647527.
What's happening in Meloni's country?
The protests against the rising cost of living began peacefully across several cities on Sunday. In Milan, rioters clashed with police, looted stores and set property ablaze. Condemning the violence, Italy's Prime Minister Meloni on Sunday said, "Demonstrating is a right. Setting our cities ablaze is not." "I have great respect for the thousands of people who today demonstrated peacefully... Whatever the ideas for which one demonstrates, participation is the foundation of any healthy democracy," Meloni said in a post on X.
The Italian premier said stones were thrown at the law enforcement forces in Milan, which led to injuries to officers and forced the interruption of the procession. She said people carrying cobblestones and hammers were stopped in Turin and a railway station was closed as a precautionary measure in Bologna.
Meloni requested the opposition to unequivocally condemn these acts of violence and issue a clear appeal for every mobilisation to be peaceful. The protests in Italy coincided with nationwide protests in neighbouring France against rising living costs and in support of high school students' grievances.
(With inputs from agencies)
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