White House Lauds India as One of the World’s Most Vibrant Democracies

The White House commends the people of India for actively participating in the democratic process by exercising their right to vote. White House spokesperson John Kirby called India as one of the most vibrant democracies globally. Kirby was responding to a question on the ongoing Indian elections, wherein over 969 million people are exercising their right to franchise at one million polling stations to elect 545 members of parliament from thousands of candidates representing as many as 2,660 registered political parties.

“Not too many more vibrant democracies in the world than India. And we applaud the Indian people for exercising, you know, their ability to vote, and to have a voice in their future government. And we wish them well throughout the process, of course,” White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby told reporters at a news conference here.

The spokesperson also emphasized the strengthening of the India-US relationship under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, especially during the last three years of the Biden administration. Describing the bond between the two nations as exceptionally close and continuously evolving, the spokesperson affirmed the deepening ties between India and the United States.

“You saw it on a State visit (last visit). We launched all kinds of new initiatives, working on critical emerging technologies together, and bolstering and expanding the relevance of the Indo-Pacific quad, of course, which India is a part of. And then, just the people to people exchanges, and the military that we share with India,” Kirby said.

“It’s a very vibrant, very active partnership. We are grateful for Prime Minister Modi’s leadership,” said the White House official.

When asked if President Joe Biden believes that India and Japan are xenophobic countries, he replied in the negative and said the president was recently making a broader point.

“I mean, the president was making a broader point here about the vibrancy of our own democracy, here in the United States, and how inclusive and participatory it is,” Kirby said.

(With inputs from PTI)