Jaishankar replies to US senator’s remark: Democracy isn’t for food

Photo : X / @DrSJaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke at the Munich Security Conference and shared his strong views on democracy. He said that the West should not think democracy belongs only to them. He also spoke about how India has a strong and active democracy. He was part of a panel discussion called "Live to Vote Another Day: Fortifying Democratic Resilience" along with Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, US Senator Elissa Slotkin, and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski.

During the discussion, someone asked Jaishankar about Western democracy. He replied that he did not agree with the idea that democracy is in trouble all over the world. To prove his point, he showed the ink mark on his finger from voting in the Delhi elections. He explained that in India, a large number of people vote. In national elections, out of around 900 million voters, about 700 million people cast their votes. He also said that India counts all votes in one day, making the process quick and clear.

Jaishankar also said that, over the years, more and more Indians have started voting. He pointed out that 20% more people vote today than they did before. He firmly said that democracy is not in danger in India. People vote, live well, and see real changes through democracy. He also added that in India, once the election results are declared, people accept them, and there are no doubts about the outcome.

During the discussion, US Senator Elissa Slotkin said, "Democracy doesn’t put food on your table." Jaishankar disagreed and said that in India, democracy does help people get food. He explained that because India is a democracy, the government runs food programs that help about 800 million people. He said that in India, democracy is not just about voting; it is also about feeding people and taking care of them.

When asked whether countries in the Global South still believe in democracy, Jaishankar said that every country is different, but democracy remains an important goal for many. He pointed out that India chose democracy after independence because it already had a culture of discussion and fairness. He said that democracy might not work the same way in every country, but each country must have open talks about what works best for them.

Jaishankar also spoke about how the West has treated democracy in the past. He said that earlier, the West believed democracy was only for them, while at the same time, they supported non-democratic governments in other countries. He said that this still happens today. Without giving names, he hinted that some Western countries say they believe in democracy but do not always follow it when dealing with other nations.

Jaishankar also said that even though India has faced many struggles, it has always remained a democracy. He noted that even when India was poor, it never gave up on democracy. He pointed out that in South Asia, India is one of the very few countries that has stayed democratic since the beginning. He said that if the West truly wants democracy to succeed everywhere, it should also respect and support democratic countries outside the Western world.

Feb. 15, 2025 {{ Blogdetails.schedule_date|time }} 375

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