India ‘vibrant’ democracy, needs no certificate: MEA

The External Affairs Ministry said India is a robust and vibrant democracy and does not require a certificate from others.  MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, the claim that others need to protect the country's constitution is presumptuous and preposterous.  Bagchi said, the track record of the event organizers is as well-known as the biases and political interests of the participants. "In recent years, we have experienced the emergence of trends and practices that dispute the well-established principle of civic nationalism and interpose a new and imaginary practice of cultural nationalism... It wants to distinguish citizens on the basis of their faith, give vent to intolerance, insinuate otherness, and promote disquiet and insecurity," he alleged.

Former Vice President Hamid Ansari and the four US lawmakers had made comments  on the current human rights situation in India at a virtual panel discussion organised by the Indian American Muslim Council. The three other Congressmen who spoke during the panel discussion - Jim McGovern, Andy Levin and Jamie Raskin -- have traditionally taken anti-India stands irrespective of the governments in power in New Delhi.  Hitting out at Ansari for his remarks, the BJP said the "madness of bashing Prime Minister Narendra Modi has turned into a conspiracy for India bashing". Law Minister Kiren Rijiju also hit out at the former vice-president, saying what he has said is "wrong" and as a member of the minority community, he can proudly say that India is the safest nation.