What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
At the stage where two largest democracies met, PM Narendra Modi rebuffed those who question democracy in India
WASHINGTON, DC: Known for his impeccable timing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose the stage where the two largest democracies in the world met as he strongly rebuffed critics who questioned democracy in India.
Replying to a question about the minority rights of Muslims in India, PM Modi on Thursday defended India’s democracy, saying that the country’s democratic values are “in our DNA” and that “democracy is in our blood”..
“India is a democratic country. Democracy is in the DNA of India and the USA, as President Biden pointed out,” PM Modi said during his address following his meeting with US President Joe Biden.
“Democracy is our spirit. Democracy is in our blood. We live democracy. Our ancestors have put it in words as the Constitution,” he pointed out, emphasising the indelible imprint of democracy on the collective consciousness of the Indian populace as he attributed the embodiment of democracy to the visionary work of the country’s ancestors who enshrined democratic principles within the Indian Constitution.
On whether minorities & Muslims are under attack in India
PM Modi strongly rebuffs
“India is a strong democracy. Like Joe Biden said, Democracy is ingrained in the DNA of both India and America. This response applies to Indian leaders claiming democracy’s end in India too” pic.twitter.com/vLGhyGCSQh
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) June 22, 2023
Elaborating on the principles of democracy, the Prime Minister underscored that India’s government operates on the firm foundation of its constitution, crafted based on the fundamental tenets of democracy.
He emphasised that democracy inherently rejects any form of discrimination, be it based on caste, creed, religion, or gender. According to Modi, true democracy is characterised by the prevalence of humanity, human values, and respect for human rights.
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“Our government runs on the basis of this Constitution, made on the basis of the basic tenets of democracy. In a democracy, there is no place for caste, creed, religion, or gender division. And when we speak of democracy, if there is no humanity, human values, and human rights, then there is no democracy,” PM Modi said.
“When we speak of democracy, when we accept democracy, we live democracy,” Modi proclaimed, highlighting the importance of actively embracing and embodying democratic principles in day-to-day life.
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The question was posed by Sabrina Siddiqui, Wall Street Journal’s White House Reporter. “Mr Prime Minister India has long prided itself as the world’s largest democracy. Many Human Rights groups have said that your government has discriminated against religious minorities. What steps will you take to improve the rights of minorities and uphold free speech?” asked Sabrina.
PM Modi’s speech came in response to recent criticism of India’s democratic record, particularly from the Biden administration.
In a recent interview, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the US was “concerned about the recent trend in India of rising intolerance towards religious minorities”.
