India, May 18 -- India has flatly rejected allegations of declining media freedom and erosion of religious and minority rights, asserting that the country is a vibrant democracy that guarantees free speech to all.

The remarks were made by Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, in response to questions about reported comments by Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten expressing concern over a perceived slide in freedom of expression in India.

George was speaking to the media on Saturday evening in the Dutch capital regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to the Netherlands. "We faced this question basically because of a lack of understanding by the person who asked it. India is a country of 1.4 billion...