Global democracy under threat? EAM S Jaishankar responds by showing his index finger

NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar showed his inked index finger to the world when asked if democracy was in trouble globally. Speaking at 'Live to Vote Another Day: Fortifying

Democratic Resilience

', the foreign minister expressed confidence in India's electoral process and said that "for us democracy is actually delivered".
"Well before I do that, I appeared to be an optimist in what is relatively a 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 just over. Last year, we had a national election. In Indian elections, roughly two-thirds of the eligible voters vote. At the national elections, the electorate of about 900 million, about 700 million voted. We count the votes in a single day," he said, speaking at the

Munich security conference

.
"Nobody disputes the result after it's announced and by the way, from the time we started voting in the modern era, 20% of people more vote today than they did decades ago. So, the first message is that somehow democracy is in trouble globally, worldwide, 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," he added.

He added that India, as a democratic society, provides nutrition support to 800 million people. He acknowledged that while democracy functions effectively in some areas, there may be challenges in others. However, he stressed that such issues should not be viewed as a universal phenomenon.
"Senator you said that democracy doesn't put food on your table. Actually, in my part of the world, it does because it actually, today because we are a democratic society, we give nutrition support, and food to 800 million people and for whom that is a matter of how healthy they are and how full their stomachs are. So, the point I want to make is look different parts of the world are going through different conversations. Please do not assume that this is a kind of universal phenomenon, it is not," he said.
Later, Jaishankar shared the snapshots from the conference and said, "Highlighted India as a democracy that delivers. Differed with the prevailing political pessimism. Spoke my mind on foreign interference."

The 61st Munich security conference (MSC) under way in Munich, Germany, from February 14 to 16. MSC 2025 will serve as a premier platform for high-level discussions on pressing global foreign and security policy challenges.