EAM S Jaishankar shows inked finger in response to global democracy under threat remark: ‘Please don’t assume…’

As a democratic society, we provide food and nutrition support to 800 million people, directly impacting their health and well-being, said EAM S Jaishankar

In response to concerns over democracy on a global scale, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar showcased his inked index finger, emphasising the power of voting. Speaking during a panel discussion on 'Live to Vote Another Day: Fortifying Democratic Resilience' at the Munich Security Conference, the Foreign Minister highlighted India's strong electoral process, asserting that "for us, democracy is actually delivered."

“I appear to be an optimist in what is a relatively pessimistic panel, if not room. I will begin by sticking up my finger—and don’t take it badly, it is the index finger. This, the mark you see on my nail, is a mark of a person who has just voted. We just had an election in my state (Delhi). Last year, we had a national election. In Indian elections, roughly two-thirds of eligible voters participate. In the national elections, out of an electorate of about 900 million, around 700 million voted. We count the votes in a single day,” Jaishankar stated, adding that nobody disputes the election results once they are announced.

Also present alongside him were Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, US Senator Elissa Slotkin and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski.

The EAM further stated, “From the time we started voting in the modern era, 20 per cent of people vote today than they did decades ago. So, the first message that somehow democracy is in trouble globally, I am sorry. I have to differ with it. I mean, right now, we are living well. We are voting well. We are optimistic about the direction of our democracy and for us democracy is actually delivered.”

Countering Senator Slotkin's assertion that democracy "doesn't put food on the table," Jaishankar pointed out that India ensures nutrition support for 800 million citizens.

“In my part of the world, it does. As a democratic society, we provide food and nutrition support to 800 million people, directly impacting their health and well-being. Different parts of the world have different conversations, so please don’t assume this is a universal phenomenon,” he said.

"There are parts where it is working well. Maybe there are parts where it's not. And the parts which are not, I think people need to have honest conversations about why it's not. But I would argue that to an extent, as someone dispassionately viewing it, a lot of it is an accumulated problem of the model of globalisation that we have followed for the last 25-30 years. I think a lot of chickens have come home to roost. So, yes there are issues, but from our point of view, let's not make that universal," he added.