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Applauding the people of India for exercising their right to vote, the White House on Friday said there are not too many more vibrant democracies in the world than India. 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, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby told reporters at a news conference here. Kirby was responding to a question on the ongoing Indian elections, wherein over 969 million people are exercising their right to franchise at one million polling stations to elect 545 members of parliament from thousands of candidates representing as many as 2,660 registered political parties. Responding to another question, Kirby said the India-US relationship has strengthened under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular during the last three years of the Bide
Claiming that India is the "oldest democracy", Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday asked publishers to consider publishing books on the country's democratic journey, its culture and heritage to present it to the world in a proper manner. These books will also inspire the coming generations, he said. Addressing an event organised by the Federation of Indian Publishers here, Birla said the global influence of Indian democracy has increased today and the country, under "the efficient leadership" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has the capability to solve all the challenges facing the world. "We have brought socioeconomic changes in our country through democracy. Today, under the efficient leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has the capability to solve all the challenges facing the world. India's strength has increased," he said. The Lok Sabha speaker said Indian publishers today have "a very big role" to play in taking India's increased strength, prosperity, culture
External Affairs Minister on Monday said that India has flagged issues related to Khalistani separatist forces operating out of Canada to Ottawa, emphasising the need to ensure that freedoms in a democratic society are not misused by forces which actually advocate "violence" and "bigotry". In recent weeks, anti-India activities in Canada have been on the rise. Jaishankar made the comments during a press conference with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong here on Monday after the 13th Foreign Ministers' Framework Dialogue. "From time to time, we have engaged the Canadian government, I have myself engaged with my counterpart on this (Khalistani) issue. And we have flagged the need to ensure that freedoms in a democratic society are not misused by forces which actually advocate violence and, and bigotry," he responded to a question related to the Khalistani issue. "So it's important, I think, to understand really, how democracies should function not only at home but also the ...