Dawn of democracy anywhere has India’s good wishes: PM
By IANSWednesday, February 16, 2011
NEW DELHI - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Wednesday that people in other parts of the world wanting to move to democracy had the good wishes of the Indian people.
Responding to a query from the Al Jazeera TV representative at his press conference about the developments in Egypt and other Arab countries, the prime minister said India does not wish to interfere in the internal affairs of any country but welcomes the “dawn of democracy” everywhere.
If people want to move towards the process of democratisation, they have our good wishes, the prime minister said.
He said whatever happens in the Gulf or other Middle Eastern countries was a matter of concern for India.
He said five million Indians live in Gulf countries and if peace was not there, it could affect vital communities of India who are working for the development of the countries in West Asia.
He denied that agitations similar to those being witnessed in some countries could take place in India.
India is a functioning democracy, he said, adding that the the country had a free press and people were free to pursue the path they wanted.
