What PM Modi answered to the questions he took in a press conference in the US
Prime Minister Narendra Modi refuted claims of religious discrimination under his government during a joint press conference with US President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington on Thursday (June 22).
Despite the concerns raised by rights groups and reports from the State Department regarding human rights abuses, Modi dismissed the existence of discrimination against minorities.
PM Modi answered two questions during the press conference - one from an Indian journalist and one from a US-based journalist. The Indian journalist from PTI asked a question on climate change, but the highlight of the press conference was the question from The Wall Street Journal's journalist on human rights violation and religious discrimination in India, and PM Modi's answer to it.
What PM Modi said
Question from WSJ journalist: Mr Prime Minister, India has long prided itself as the world's largest democracy, but there are many human rights groups who say that your government has discriminated against religious minorities and sought to silence its critics. As you stand here in the East Room of the White House, where so many world leaders have made commitments to protecting democracy, what steps are you and your government willing to take to improve the rights of Muslims and other minorities in your country and to uphold free speech?
Answer from PM Modi: I'm actually really surprised that you are saying that people say so. Indeed, India is a democracy.
And as President Biden also mentioned, India and America have democracy is in their DNA. Democracy is our spirit. Democracy runs in our veins. We live democracy. And our ancestors have actually put words to this concept, and that is in the form of our constitution.
Our government has taken the basic principles of democracy. And on that basis, our constitution is made and the entire country runs on that. We have always proved that democracy can deliver. And when I say deliver, this is regardless of caste, creed, religion, gender. There's absolutely no space for discrimination.
"Democracy is in our spirit, and we live it. It's in our Constitution. There is no question of discrimination on the grounds of caste or religion. India believes in sabka saath, sabka vishwas, and sabka prayaas"
And when you talk of democracy, if there are no human values and there is no humanity, there are no human rights, then it's not a democracy.
And that is why, when you say democracy and you accept democracy and when we live democracy, then there is absolutely no space for discrimination. And that is why India believes in moving ahead with everybody with trust and with everybody's efforts.
These are our foundation principles, which are the basis of how we operate, how we live our lives. In India, the benefits that are provided by the government is accessible to all. Whoever deserves those benefits is available to everybody. And that is why, in India's democratic values, there's absolutely no discrimination neither on basis of caste, creed, or age, or any kind of geographic location.
Human rights discussions between Biden and Modi
President Biden revealed that he had discussed human rights and democratic values with PM Modi during their meeting at the White House. Inquiries were made regarding the measures Modi was willing to undertake to enhance the rights of Muslims and other minorities in the country, as well as uphold freedom of speech.
PM Modi, however, suggested that no improvements were needed in these areas, emphasizing that the Indian government, Constitution, and democracy did not permit any form of discrimination based on caste, creed, religion, or gender.
Protests erupt over Modi's statements
Protesters gathered near the White House in response to Modi's remarks. They emphasized that the mere fact that the first question posed to Modi during the press briefing revolved around human rights abuses in India indicated the widespread acknowledgment of such issues, reported Reuters.
Modi's first state visit to the US
While PM Modi has previously visited the United States on five occasions since assuming office in 2014, this trip holds a special significance as it marks his first full-fledged state visit.
PM Modi became the only Indian Prime Minister to address a joint session of the US Congress twice. The Prime Minister had earlier addressed the US Congress in 2016.