Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian diaspora in The Hague on May 19, 2024, to thank the community for its support [1].
The event highlights the role of the Indian diaspora in strengthening people-to-people ties between India and the Netherlands. By addressing the community abroad, the Prime Minister reinforces the global influence of the Indian community and its connection to domestic political milestones.
Modi said the enthusiasm of the gathering was like a festival in India [1]. During the address, he thanked the attendees for the affection and support they have shown throughout his career. He noted that he has spent 25 years [3] in democratic public service.
The Prime Minister also focused on the historical significance of May 16, citing it as a very special date [2]. He said that the date marks the 2014 mandate that allowed his party to serve the nation [2]. This specific date refers to the decisive electoral victory of the BJP-led NDA on May 16, 2014 [2].
The gathering in The Hague served as a platform to acknowledge the contributions of Indians living in Europe. Modi used the occasion to link his personal trajectory of public service to the broader democratic mandate received by his government over a decade ago.
"Their enthusiasm feels like a festival in India," Modi said [1].
"May 16 is very special — it marks the 2014 mandate that allowed us to serve the nation," he said [2].
“Their enthusiasm feels like a festival in India.”
This address serves as a dual effort to maintain the loyalty of the influential Indian diaspora while framing the Prime Minister's leadership within a long-term narrative of democratic service. By linking the event to the 2014 mandate, the administration emphasizes the legitimacy and longevity of its current political era on an international stage.
