Catalonia crisis: India says issues be addressed within constitutional framework

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday urged that the Catalonia crisis be addressed within the constitutional framework and with respect for national integrity.

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "As a country that values and fosters unity in diversity, India would urge that issues of identity and culture are best addressed within the constitutional framework and with respect for national integrity."

"We have noted the negative global reaction to this development. Neither Europe nor the world would benefit from instability," he added.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano has dissolved the Catalan Parliament to impose direct rule over it and called for a new regional election on December 21.

The Catalonia parliament voted to declare independence from Spain and proclaimed to be a republic.

The Catalan Government had said that it earned the right to split from Spain, claiming 90 percent of those who voted in referendum were in favour of independence.

Before Madrid's imposition of direct rule over it, Catalonia enjoyed wide autonomy, including control over its own policing, education and healthcare.

Catalan nationalists have always argued that the region is a separate nation with its own history, culture and language, and that it should have increased fiscal independence.