India has strongly rejected reported remarks made by Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten regarding press freedom and minority rights in the country, describing the criticism as a result of a “lack of understanding” about India’s democratic and cultural framework.
The response came during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Netherlands, when a Dutch journalist questioned the absence of a joint press conference and raised concerns related to media freedom and the rights of minorities in India.
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Responding to the query, Sibi George, Secretary (West) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said India remained a vibrant democracy with strong traditions of diversity and peaceful coexistence. He stressed that criticism often came from people who lacked adequate understanding of India’s civilisational history and social structure.
George highlighted India’s 5,000-year-old civilisation and pointed out that religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism originated in the country and continue to flourish. He also noted that communities including Jews, Christians and Muslims have lived and practised their faith freely in India for centuries.
Defending India’s democratic system, George referred to the high voter participation in recent elections and said peaceful transfer of power remained one of the country’s strongest democratic features. “We are one-sixth of the world’s population, but not one-sixth of the world’s problems,” he remarked.
The diplomat further argued that India’s minority population had increased significantly since Independence, claiming this reflected the country’s inclusive environment.
According to Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant, Jetten had reportedly expressed concerns about developments in India before meeting Modi, particularly regarding press freedom and minority rights. However, the Dutch Prime Minister later emphasised on social media that both India and the Netherlands value democracy, good governance and a rules-based global order.
