India pushes back on minority rights question during PM Modi's Netherlands trip: ‘Lack of understanding’
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Netherlands, a senior Indian diplomat pushed back against questions about minority rights and press freedom in India, calling them a result of 'lack of understanding.' The trip saw India and the Netherlands sign 17 agreements and elevate their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership. The diplomat highlighted India's religious diversity and demographic growth of minority communities as evidence of pluralism.
- ▪India and the Netherlands signed 17 agreements during PM Modi's visit, upgrading their relationship to a strategic partnership.
- ▪Sibi George, India's Ministry of External Affairs secretary (west), defended India's record on religious pluralism and press freedom at a media briefing in The Hague.
- ▪George stated that India's minority population has grown from 11% at independence to over 20%, and emphasized that four major religions originated in India.
- ▪He noted that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have all thrived in India for centuries, citing this as proof of religious tolerance.
- ▪The Dutch-Indian joint statement did not mention concerns about minority rights or press freedom, though such issues had been raised in Dutch media prior to Modi's visit.
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India pushes back on minority rights question during PM Modi's Netherlands trip: ‘Lack of understanding’India and Netherlands ink 17 pacts, elevate ties to strategic partnership during PM Narendra Modi's visitUpdated on: May 17, 2026 2:21 PM ISTBy HT News DeskShare viaCopy link A senior Indian diplomat strongly defended India's record on religious pluralism in The Hague, Netherlands, on Saturday, after a Dutch journalist asked him to respond to reported concerns about press freedom and minority rights in India.Ministry of External Affairs' secretary (west) Sibi George cited religious diversity of India.
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