New Delhi has delivered a firm rebuttal to a Norwegian journalist's questions regarding press freedom and human rights in India. Answering a media query during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to Oslo, a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spotlighted India's democratic framework, constitutional values, and pluralism, whilst roundly dismissing critical reports from what he termed "ignorant NGOs".
Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, reminded reporters of the sheer scale of the nation, pointing out that whilst India accounts for one-sixth of the global population, it does not account for one-sixth of the world's problems. He further said that the Indian Constitution assures the fundamental rights of Indian citizens and strong measures are available under law against any infringement. He further remarked that India takes great pride in its democratic tradition, which assures equal rights to women and immediate redress in case an individual's rights are violated.
Considering the magnitude and complexities involved in the Indian media scenario, George stressed the presence of an extremely active media environment working through thousands of different outlets. According to him, it becomes difficult for outsiders to understand the true dynamics of the media environment in India as, in Delhi itself, there are at least 200 TV stations which broadcast the latest news every day in English, Hindi, and other regional languages.
This bureaucrat was frustrated by the simplicity with which domestic complexities could easily be translated into simplistic accounts outside. He stated that people from other nations have very little knowledge regarding the magnitude of India and rather prefer to frame their queries based on the reports issued by ignorant organisations. He reasserted the fact that India continues to be a country which respects the law of the land and abides by international standards.
This sharp response from the Foreign Ministry comes immediately after New Delhi rejected remarks made by Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten concerning an alleged decline in media freedom and the erosion of minority rights in India. During the Netherlands leg of Prime Minister Modi's European tour, MEA officials similarly asserted that India is a vibrant democracy with deep civilisational roots, suggesting that such criticisms stem entirely from a fundamental lack of understanding of the country's pluralistic society.
Also read: India slams Dutch PM over press freedom, minority rights remarks
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