PM Modi Breaks Silence: Defends India's Democracy and Minority Rights

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a rare joint press conference with U.S. President Joe Biden on June 22 at the White House. During the meeting, Sabrina Siddiqui, a White House reporter for The Wall Street Journal, asked PM Modi about his government's efforts to improve minority rights and uphold free speech in India. This marked the first time PM Modi had answered questions in a press conference since assuming office in 2014.

Siddiqui's question specifically addressed the steps the Indian government was willing to take to enhance the rights of Muslims and other minorities and promote free speech. In response, PM Modi strongly defended India's record on democracy and human rights, emphasizing that his government's core principles were centered around inclusive growth and trust for all citizens, regardless of caste, creed, or religion. He highlighted the democratic nature of India and the United States. He stressed that discrimination based on these grounds did not exist in India. PM Modi stated that the government's benefits and initiatives were accessible to all deserving individuals.

It is noteworthy that PM Modi rarely participates in press conferences, and this was his first time addressing questions from the media since 2014. Although he attended a press conference in May 2019, he did not engage in question-and-answer sessions then.

The White House press conferences with world leaders are typically tightly controlled, with reporters selected in advance by U.S. authorities. Siddiqui, a prominent Muslim American journalist, has covered the White House extensively, including the 2016 presidential election, during her tenure at The Guardian before 2019. She serves as a White House reporter for The Wall Street Journal, focusing on the Biden presidency. Siddiqui graduated from Northwestern University and resides in Washington, D.C., with her husband.

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