Deeply concerned, says PM Modi as Brazil ex-prez Bolsonaro’s supporters run riot

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply concerned” after supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro broke into the country’s congressional building, Supreme Court and presidential palace on Sunday.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi extended his support to the Brazilian government led by newly sworn-in President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

“Deeply concerned about the news of rioting and vandalism against the State institutions in Brasilia. Democratic traditions must be respected by everyone. We extend our full support to the Brazilian authorities,” PM Modi tweeted, and tagged Brazil President Silva.

Deeply concerned about the news of rioting and vandalism against the State institutions in Brasilia. Democratic traditions must be respected by everyone. We extend our full support to the Brazilian authorities. @LulaOficial — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 9, 2023

In a grim echo of the US Capitol invasion two years ago, far-right leader Bolsonaro’s supporters on Sunday night stormed into and defaced Brazil’s presidential palace, flooded parts of Congress with a sprinkler system and ransacked ceremonial rooms in the Supreme Court in capital Brasilia.

There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries from their rampage. Police have since cleared the massive crowds from government buildings and made at least 400 arrests.

The breaches come about a week after the inauguration of President Lula da Silva, who defeated Bolsonaro in a runoff election on October 30.

Bolsonaro challenged the election results and has not explicitly conceded, though he said he would cooperate with the transition of power.

President Lula da Silva said everyone involved in the Brasilia riot would be found and punished. Calling the protesters “fanatical fascists,” Lula said, “These vandals, who we could call fanatical Nazis, fanatical Stalinists … fanatical fascists, did what has never been done in the history of this country. All these people who did this will be found and they will be punished.”

World leaders have banded together in condemning the incident, with US President Joe Biden dubbing the events an “assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power,” adding that Brazil’s democratic institutions had America’s full support.