JK News Today
Jammu , June 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi snubbed the doubters and those who raised questions about the state of Indian democracy , saying that democracy is a spirit that vibrates in the country . “ There was no discrimination on the religious, caste or ethnic basis,” he said emphatically at a joint press conference with President Joe Biden of the United States of America at White House on Thursday
Modi took the opportunity to explain vibrancy of the Indian democracy where all were equal and had accessibility to all programmes of the federal government .
To a question of Wall Street Journal’s reporter Sabrina , Prime Minister gave an epic reply “
I’m actually really surprised that people say so. And so, people don’t say it. Indeed, India is a democracy. “
He quoted President Biden , who had hailed the Indian democracy to substantiate his comments , which any case is a universal truth, “And as President Biden also mentioned, India and America — both countries, democracy is in our 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.”
The question by WSJ reporter was ,” 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?”
Prime Minister Modi in a poised answer told the reporter and others present at the press briefing , “ Our government has taken the basic principles of democracy. And on that basis, our constitution is made and the entire country runs on that — our constitution and government. 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.
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.”
