Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 16 May addressed a large gathering of the Indian diaspora in The Hague, Netherlands, spotlighting India's democratic scale, its growing global footprint, and the deepening bilateral partnership with the European nation. The event drew repeated chants of 'Modi, Modi' from an enthusiastic crowd.

India's Democratic Scale on the World Stage

Modi anchored his address in hard numbers. 'In India, over 90 crore voters are registered. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, 64 crore people voted. This means that more Indians voted than the total population of the European Union,' he said, framing India's electoral participation as a global benchmark.

He also cited the recently concluded Assembly elections in Assam, Bengal, Keralam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, noting voter turnout of 80–90 per cent with a marked rise in women's participation. 'We are proud that the voting records are being broken,' he said, describing India as the 'Mother of democracy.'

The Jhalmuri Moment and the 2014 Recall

Modi drew laughter and applause with a light-hearted quip — 'Has Jhalmuri reached here too?' — a reference to the popular Bengali street snack, signalling the cultural familiarity he sought to project with the diaspora.

He also marked the symbolic significance of the date, recalling that 16 May 2014 was when the Lok Sabha election results were declared, bringing a stable majority government to power after decades. 'From that day to this, the immense belief of the Indians has not let me stop or get tired,' he said. Reflecting on 13 years as Chief Minister and 12 years as Prime Minister, he described the support of 25 crore voters as 'not just a figure, but a great wealth.'

Global Crises and the India-Netherlands Supply Chain Partnership

Modi placed the bilateral relationship in the context of a turbulent global environment. 'First Covid, then wars and now energy crisis; this decade is turning into the decade of calamities of the world,' he said, warning that without course correction, 'the achievements of the last multiple decades will be wasted' and a large section of the world's population could slide into poverty.

Against this backdrop, he highlighted that India and the Netherlands are working together to build a future-ready, resilient supply chain — a priority that has risen sharply on the global agenda since the pandemic exposed fragilities in existing networks. He also expressed confidence in the recently signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union, calling it a vehicle for deeper economic and strategic cooperation.

Tulips, Lotuses, Cricket and Hockey

Modi drew a symbolic parallel between the two nations through their iconic flowers. 'Just like the Netherlands is known for its Tulips, India is known for its Lotuses… if the flower gets proper nutrition, then it grows beautiful and strong. This is also a foundation of the partnership between the two countries,' he said.

On sporting ties, he praised the Netherlands cricket team for its performance at the T20 Cricket World Cup held in India and acknowledged players of Indian origin in Dutch cricket. He also credited Dutch coach Sjoerd Marijne for his 'significant role' in Indian women's hockey. The Prime Minister additionally recalled the historical and cultural bonds of the Surinami-Hindustani community with India, commending their efforts to preserve shared heritage across generations.

Call to the Diaspora

Modi closed with a direct appeal to the Indian community in the Netherlands, urging them to invest in and contribute to India's development. 'This is Modi's guarantee,' he said, a phrase that has become a recurring motif in his public addresses. The diaspora event was one of the centrepieces of his visit to the European nation, which also covered bilateral meetings focused on trade, technology, and strategic cooperation.