During a diplomatic visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Netherlands, a question from a Dutch journalist regarding press freedom and minority rights in India sparked a strong rebuttal from the Indian government.
Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Sibi George directly addressed the media, asserting that criticism of India often reflects a knowledge gap rather than a genuine comprehension of the country's realities. "We face these kinds of questions basically because of the lack of understanding of the person who asks the question," George stated.
India's Democratic and Pluralistic Defense
George presented a comprehensive defense of India's pluralistic character, emphasizing its vast scale and ancient heritage. He highlighted India as the world's most populous nation, a civilization spanning over 5,000 years, and a land of immense diversity in culture, languages, food, and religion.
He underscored that four major world religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism—originated in India, a unique distinction globally. Furthermore, he noted the continuous and unpersecuted presence of other faiths, including Jewish communities for over 2,500 years, Christianity since immediately after Jesus Christ's resurrection, and Islam since the time of Prophet Muhammad.
Addressing Concerns on Minorities and Democracy
On the aspect of democracy, George cited India's high voter participation rates, with over 90% of the electorate casting ballots in recent elections, as evidence of the nation's robust democratic health. He stressed that India has achieved economic progress and poverty reduction through democratic processes alone, without resorting to violence.
A key statistical point was made regarding minority populations. George highlighted that at India's independence, minorities constituted 11% of the population, a figure that has now grown to over 20%. "Name a country where the population of minorities has gone up? You won't find it anywhere other than India," he challenged, urging critics to "learn more about India" to foster greater appreciation for its progress.
The Dutch Prime Minister's Remarks
The diplomatic exchange was prompted by reports that Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten had raised concerns about India prior to his meeting with PM Modi. According to the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant, Jetten's government held concerns "not just about press freedom" but also about "the rights of minorities, which are under severe pressure there," indicating that such issues were "regularly raised" with the Indian government.