From ‘Jhalmuri’ Humor to Democratic Pride, Prime Minister Modi Highlights India’s Global Rise in Netherlands
THE HAGUE — Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India’s democratic strength, growing global influence, and expanding partnership with the Netherlands while addressing a large and enthusiastic gathering of the Indian diaspora during his visit to The Hague.
The event drew hundreds of members of the Indian community, many chanting “Modi, Modi” as the Prime Minister spoke about India’s elections, economic resilience, global partnerships, and the role of the diaspora in India’s development journey.
Referring to the recently concluded Assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, Modi praised the high voter turnout and increasing participation of women in the democratic process.
“In the recently concluded Assembly elections, there was 80-90 percent voting, in which women’s participation significantly increased. We are proud that voting records are being broken,” Modi said.
Adding a lighter moment to the event, the Prime Minister jokingly asked the crowd, “Has Jhalmuri reached here too?” — a reference to the popular Indian street snack that prompted loud applause and laughter from attendees.
Emphasizing India’s democratic scale, Modi noted that India remains one of the world’s largest and most active democracies.
“In India, more than 900 million voters are registered. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, 640 million people voted. More Indians voted than the total population of the European Union,” he said, describing India as the “Mother of Democracy.”
The Prime Minister also spoke about the broader global climate of uncertainty, citing the Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, and energy challenges as factors threatening decades of global development progress.
“When India succeeds, humanity benefits,” Modi said. “But today the world faces multiple crises. If these situations are not addressed soon, the achievements of past decades could be lost and millions could slip back into poverty.”
Against that backdrop, Modi underscored the importance of resilient global supply chains and said India and the Netherlands are working closely to build future-ready economic partnerships. He also referred to the recently signed Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union, expressing confidence that it would deepen trade and strategic ties.
Drawing a symbolic cultural comparison between the two nations, Modi said the Netherlands is known for tulips while India is known for lotuses, adding that both flowers represent growth, resilience, and partnership.
“Whether rooted in land or water, flowers bloom when they receive proper nourishment,” he said. “That is also the foundation of the partnership between our two countries.”
The Prime Minister also highlighted sporting connections between India and the Netherlands, mentioning the Dutch cricket team’s participation in the ICC T20 World Cup hosted in India and acknowledging the contribution of Indian-origin players in Dutch cricket. He also praised Dutch hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne for his role in the development of Indian women’s hockey.
During his remarks, Modi acknowledged the Surinami-Hindustani community in the Netherlands for preserving Indian cultural traditions across generations and called on the Indian diaspora to continue contributing to India’s economic and social development.
“I urge the Indian community in the Netherlands to contribute to India as much as possible,” he said. “That will increase India’s potential and also bring greater returns on your investments.”
Modi also reflected on the political significance of May 16, recalling the results of the 2014 Indian general elections that brought his government to power with a full majority.
“On May 16, 2014, after decades, India was set to form a stable majority government,” he said. “From that day until today, the trust and affection of the people of India have never allowed me to stop or tire.”
Reflecting on his years in public office, Modi said the continued support of voters remains his greatest strength.
“When I look back at 13 years as Chief Minister and 12 years as Prime Minister, the support of 250 million voters is not just a number — it is my greatest wealth,” he said. (Source: IANS)
