Team Blitz India
Applauding the Indians for their democratic participation, the White House recently emphasised the vibrancy of India’s democracy. “Not too many more vibrant democracies in the world than India.
And we applaud the Indian people for exercising, you know, their ability to vote, and to have a voice in their future government. And we wish them well throughout the process, of course,” said White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby during a news conference.
Kirby made these remarks in response to a question regarding the ongoing Indian elections, where over 969 million citizens are voting at one million polling stations to elect 545 members of Parliament from thousands of candidates representing 2,660 registered political parties. Kirby also highlighted the strengthening of India-US relationship under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly during the Biden administration’s last three years. “Our relationship with India is extremely close and getting closer,” he noted.
“You saw it on a State visit (last visit). We launched all kinds of new initiatives, working on critical emerging technologies together, and bolstering and expanding the relevance of the Indo-Pacific Quad, of course, which India is a part of. And then, just the people-to-people exchanges, and the military that we share with India,” he elaborated.
“It’s a very vibrant, very active partnership. We are grateful for Prime Minister Modi’s leadership,” Kirby added. When questioned about President Joe Biden’s stance on whether India and Japan are xenophobic countries, he refuted the notion, clarifying that the President was addressing a broader context. “I mean, the President was making a broader point here about the vibrancy of our own democracy, here in the United States, and how inclusive and participatory it is,” Kirby explained.