Sibi George defended India’s record on religious pluralism and press freedom during a media briefing in The Hague
May 17, 2026: A senior Indian diplomat strongly defended India’s record on religious pluralism and democracy during a media briefing in The Hague on Saturday. The exchange took place after delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dutch leader Rob Jetten, where both sides elevated bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and signed 17 agreements in sectors including defence, semiconductors and critical minerals.
During the briefing, a Dutch journalist asked Indian Ministry of External Affairs secretary (west) Sibi George to respond to reported concerns regarding press freedom and minority rights in India. In reply, George said such questions arise due to a “lack of understanding” about India. He highlighted that religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism originated in India and continued to flourish there, while other major faiths like Judaism, Christianity and Islam had also thrived in the country for centuries.
Defending India’s democratic and social framework, George pointed to the growth in the minority population since independence and described India as a “very noisy democracy” with freedom of expression and press. He also referred to high voter participation in recent elections and invited the journalist to visit India to witness its diversity and democratic culture firsthand. The remarks came amid growing discussion in sections of Dutch media and among human rights groups over concerns related to minorities ahead of Modi’s visit.