India Defends Freedom of Expression Amid Criticism of Minority Rights

India Rejects Claims of Declining Media Freedom

India has firmly dismissed allegations regarding a decline in media freedom and violations of religious and minority rights. The country emphasized its status as a vibrant democracy that guarantees freedom of expression for all its citizens.

These remarks were made by Siby George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, in response to concerns raised by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte about the alleged decline in freedom of expression in India.

George spoke to the media on Saturday evening in Amsterdam, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to the Netherlands. He stated, 'We faced this question due to a lack of understanding from the questioner. India is a nation of 1.4 billion people—the most populous country in the world.'

He further highlighted India's rich cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity while refuting the accusations.

Celebrating India's Cultural Diversity

George remarked, 'Look at India; it is incredibly beautiful. No other country in the world has seen the rise of so many religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. All of these originated in India and continue to thrive today.'

He noted that major world religions have found refuge in India and have continued to spread from there. 'India is perhaps one of the few countries where the Jewish community has never faced persecution. That is the beauty of India,' he added.

Referring to the recent assembly elections, George asserted that India is a lively democracy, characterized by peaceful transitions of power.

Economic Success Without Compromising Democratic Values

He stated that India has achieved economic success without compromising its democratic values. 'We did not resort to violence to tackle poverty; instead, we addressed it through democratic processes.'

George emphasized, 'We represent one-sixth of the world's population, but we are not one-sixth of the world's problems. That is the beauty of India, which fills us with pride. Every minority community thrives here.'

He also pointed out that when India gained independence, the minority population was 11 percent, and today it exceeds 20 percent. He stressed that people of all religions live happily together in India.