Edition
IN
English
Weather

TOI

Trending

'Muslims Came...': Brutal MEA Pushback Over Dutch 'Lecture' On Minorities During PM Modi's Visit

| May 17, 2026, 10:05:20 PM | TOI.in
  • Share
India has issued a sharp diplomatic pushback after concerns over “minority rights” were reportedly raised during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Netherlands visit. The response came from MEA Secretary West Sibi George during a press interaction in The Hague, where he strongly defended India’s democratic and civilisational character. George highlighted India’s long history as a refuge for persecuted communities, pointing to the flourishing of Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities on Indian soil over centuries. The remarks reportedly followed comments made by Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten during closed-door discussions referencing Western rights assessments on South Asia. Despite the friction, India and the Netherlands upgraded ties to a full Strategic Partnership, focusing heavily on semiconductors, clean energy, trade and supply-chain resilience. The episode once again exposed the balancing act shaping India-Europe relations — growing economic cooperation on one side, and recurring disagreements over political narratives and internal affairs on the other.

Top Viral Videos

Short Videos

Explore Every Corner
Across The Globe
NFL Trade RumorsTS EAPCET Result 2026Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Match ScorecardNEET UG 2026IPL Playoff ScenarioPBKS vs RCBShreyas IyerRavi ShastriRR vs DCIPL Orange CapNathan mackinnon and charlotte walkerGujarat Rape Wife and DaughterArman tsarukyanMamata BenerjeeNEET Paper LeakSunetra PawarAmbati RayuduRonda RouseyKKR vs GTNFL Trade RumorsPetrol Diesel PriceUS Iran WarIPL Purple Cap WinnerTrevor Zegras and Owen Tippett InjuriesKylian MbappeRussell Wilson NFL RetirementIPL Points TableJyotipriya MallicPriyadarshini MallickDonald Trump China Visit
Living and Entertainment
CricbuzzLifestyleNewspaper SubscriptionFood NewsTVTimes PrimeTravel DestinationsWhats HotETimesTimes LifeTimes PetsMyLifeXP
Services
CouponDuniaTechGigTimesJobsBollywood NewsTimes MobileGadgetsTimes EventsWork with UsColombiaTOI Global
Trending Videos
‘War Is Not The Answer’: Brazil's Lula Lashes Out At Trump’s Forced Iran ConflictPM Modi Gets Sweden’s Top Royal Honour; 31st International Honour For Indian PMIndian Worker Killed, 3 Injured as Ukraine Launches 1,000-Drone Blitz On RussiaKolkata: Protest Against Demolition Drive Turns Violent In Park Circus, 3 Cops InjuredPM Modi Gets Bengali-Style Welcome In Sweden’s Gothenburg | WatchHezbollah Releases FPV Drone Footage 'Blinding' Israeli Communications at Balat Site'Muslims Came...': Brutal MEA Pushback Over Dutch 'Lecture' On Minorities During PM Modi's VisitSalman Khan reveals he took a loan to buy father Salim Khan a ₹9 lakh Rolex; says ‘I had only 4' Kamal Haasan meets CM Vijay, submits 6 demands for Tamil cinema; support for government sparks buzz Prince Harry Blames Queen Camilla For 'Blocking Peace' With King Charles: ReportsVD Satheesan Announces Kerala Cabinet Ahead Of Oath, IUML To Get 5 PostsInternal Review Launched After Massive Blast Rocks Israel’s Classified Tomer Missile FacilityTrump Ally Lauren Boebert Sparks MAGA Meltdown After Backing Fierce Trump Critic Massie | WATCHVolkswagen Virtus Shines On 700 Km Ranthambore DriveBollywood Stars Get Real About Modern Dating ChaosAamir Khan Keeps It Stylish In Simple Weekend LookVedang Raina To Star Opposite Sharvari In Main Vaapas AaungaLinda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen Break Silence After Crushing Eurovision Loss | WATCH
Latest News
Hazaribag man drowns while fishing in lake"Behen Darr Gayi!": Fans relive ‘Bhagam Bhag’ era after watching Akshay Kumar's 'Bhooth Bangla' trailerMBOSE HSLC result 2026 to release tomorrow: Check details hereIran war risk: JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon warns of oil shocks, sticky inflation and higher interest ratesMake your clutch last longer with these easy driving tips“Three-against-one situation”: El Rubius opens up on being “targeted” in MrBeast’s viral $1M challengeBihar BTSC lab assistant notification released for 1091 posts at btsc.bihar.gov.in; apply hereIPL craze costs techie Rs 1.46 lakh in fake RCB vs CSK ticket scamRaising “robot-proof” kids: Why creativity and curiosity matter more than everInside ‘Satguru Sharan’: Exploring Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Rs 100 crore Bandra homeHow selling Alaska in 1867 was a costly mistake for Russia'Hera Pheri 3 is coming': Paresh Rawal dismisses delay reports and reveals he will 'start shooting soon'US-Iran War: A daring rescue Hollywood blockbuster is on its way. Till then, pick your favourite from these 10 films on bringing someone home against all oddsKolkata team unveils fan mural at Rash Behari Avenue, celebrating city’s first loveHow US spread a lie to rescue a pilot of a jet shot down in IranNetflix unveils ‘VOID’, an AI model that can change a movie plotAI data centers are causing 'stress' not just to tech companies, but also private insurers"Trans women are.....": Clavicular’s viral moment with trans women sparks fresh conversation on internet culture
Copyright © 2026 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service