Desk Correspondent , Amsterdam — A senior Indian diplomat strongly defended India’s record on religious pluralism and press freedom here on Saturday, following questions raised by a Dutch journalist during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit. Responding to reported European concerns regarding minority rights, Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Sibi George asserted that India’s democratic and inclusive framework remains robust, dismissing the criticisms as a "lack of understanding" of the country's ground realities.

The exchange occurred during a media briefing after delegation-level talks where Prime Minister Modi and Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten elevated bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and signed 17 agreements spanning defence, semiconductors, and critical minerals. While the journalist claimed Jetten and the European Union were worried about the treatment of Muslims and smaller communities, George countered by highlighting India's demographic data, noting that the nation's minority population has grown from 11% at independence to over 20% today.

Defending India’s press freedom, George described the nation as a "vibrant" and "noisy democracy" where freedom of expression is fiercely protected, pointing to recent high-turnout elections as proof of civic health. He concluded by inviting critics to visit India to witness its thriving economy and secular co-existence firsthand, countering pre-summit pressure from human rights groups that had urged the Dutch government to raise these issues.