He made the statements while speaking during a panel discussion on ‘Live to Vote Another Day: Fortifying Democratic Resilience’. Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, US Senator Elissa Slotkin and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowsk were also on the panel. Senator Slotkin, who on the panel said that democracy “doesn’t put food on your table”.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, showed his index finger when asked if democracy is in trouble worldwide. Jaishankar said that he differs in the view that democracy is in trouble globally and highlighted India’s democracy.
Jaishankar took a dig at the West and said it treated democracy as a Western characteristic. “The message is that somehow democracy is in trouble globally, and I will have to disagree with it. We are voting well, we are optimistic about democracy and for us, democracy has actually delivered,” said Jaishankar.
Sharing images from the event on X, Dr Jaishankar said that he “Highlighted India as a democracy that delivers.” “Differed with the prevailing political pessimism. Spoke my mind on foreign interference.” he added.
Started the #MSC2025 with a panel on ‘Live to Vote Another Day: Fortifying Democratic Resilience’. Joined PM @jonasgahrstore, @ElissaSlotkin and @trzaskowski_.
Highlighted India as a democracy that delivers. Differed with the prevailing political pessimism. Spoke my mind on… pic.twitter.com/h3GUmeglst
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 14, 2025
“The mark on my index finger is a mark of a person who just voted. We just had an election in my state. Last year, we had a national election. In Indian elections, 2/3rd of national voters vote. We count the votes in a single day and nobody disputes the results after it is announced. Today, in the modern era, 20 per cent more voters vote than they did decades ago,” he added.
He made the statements while speaking during a panel discussion on ‘Live to Vote Another Day: Fortifying Democratic Resilience’. Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, US Senator Elissa Slotkin and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowsk were also on the panel. Senator Slotkin, who on the panel said that democracy “doesn’t put food on your table”.