PM Modi also addressed the Israel-Hamas conflict, stating that India has backed the distribution of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Highlighting that India’s relations with the US are experiencing an “upward trajectory,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that India’s growth should be benchmarked against other democracies rather than China. In an interview with The Financial Times based in the UK, PM Modi dismissed a question regarding the recent easing of tensions between the US and China, stating that such matters are “best addressed by the people and government of America and China.” Regarding the characterization of India’s closer ties with the US as an alliance, Modi commented,”When it comes to finding the most fitting words to describe this relationship, I’ll leave that to you… Today, the India-US relationship is more extensive in engagement, richer in understanding, and warmer in friendship than ever before.”
“The world is both interconnected and interdependent. Our primary guiding principle in foreign affairs is our national interest. This approach enables us to interact with different nations in a way that recognizes mutual interests and acknowledges the complexities of contemporary geopolitics,” he stated.
Regarding India’s growth, he remarked, “You have made a comparison with China, but it might be more appropriate to compare India with other democracies… It’s important to recognize that India wouldn’t have attained the status of the world’s fastest-growing economy if the issues you’ve highlighted were as widespread as suggested… Frequently, these concerns arise from perceptions, and changing perceptions sometimes requires time.”
On the Israel-Hamas conflict, PM Modi stated that India has supported the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and reiterated its backing for a two-state solution. He mentioned staying in touch with leaders in the region and expressed India’s willingness to contribute to peace efforts. When asked about the future of the Muslim minority in India, Modi redirected the focus to the economic success of India’s Parsis, describing them as a “religious micro-minority residing in India.”
“Despite facing persecution elsewhere in the world, they have found a haven in India, living happily and prospering. That shows that the Indian society itself has no feeling of discrimination towards any religious minority,” he remarked, without directly addressing the country’s approximately 200 million Muslims.
when questioned about the Modi government’s alleged crackdown on critics, he responded with a “long and hearty laugh.” He noted the existence of an ecosystem using the freedom available in the country to make allegations, emphasizing that they have the right to do so, but others also have the right to respond with facts.
Modi referred to the long history of outsiders underestimating India, citing dire predictions made by the departing British in 1947. He asserted that these predictions and preconceptions have been proven false, and those doubting his government today will similarly be proven wrong.