Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in her recently published book “Freedom: Memoirs 1951-2021,” has raised serious concerns over the increase in attacks on Muslims and Christians by Hindu nationalists in India since 2014. Merkel recounted addressing this issue with Prime Minister Modi during their meetings, only to face his vehement denial. The Prime Minister asserted that India “is and will remain a religiously tolerant country.” However, Merkel sharply refuted his claims, stating, “Unfortunately, the facts tell a different story,” adding that her concerns about religious freedom in India persist.
Recalling her initial meeting with Modi in Germany in April 2015, Merkel remarked, “Modi has a penchant for visual effects (video presentations).” Modi described his election campaigns, during which he delivered speeches from a studio and broadcast his image live to over 50 different locations, attracting thousands of listeners at each event. This technology was prominently used during the 2014 general election campaign.
The former German leader also reflected on her interactions with Dr. Manmohan Singh. Merkel highlighted Singh’s dedication to improving the living standards of India’s rural population, constituting two-thirds of its 1.2 billion people. She admired Singh’s perspective on global inequality, noting how affluent nations often neglected the challenges of emerging economies.
Merkel also acknowledged India’s cultural and linguistic diversity, which Singh described as a unifying strength. Comparing India’s unity to the European Union’s model, Singh emphasised the nation’s constitutionally recognised 22 official languages and its rich history spanning over 5,000 years.
