Here's how India's envoy at the UN Ruchira Kamboj defended the country's low ranking in the press freedom index.
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00:00We don't need to be told what to do on democracy.
00:04We have all the pillars of democracy that are intact.
00:30India, the country of India was very strong and it's usually very strong because it's
00:52the biggest, largest democracy in the world.
00:57But lately, in the last years, unfortunately, press freedom has been ranked number 150,
01:06for example, from reporters without borders.
01:09So how do you respond to this criticism that democracy in India, at least as far as to
01:17do with the freedom of the press, has not been improving?
01:21You know, we don't need to be told what to do on democracy.
01:26India is perhaps the most ancient civilization in the world, as all of you know.
01:32In India, democracy had roots going back to 2,500 years, 2,500 years.
01:39We were always a democracy, the Shakyas and the Licchavis, to those of my Indian friends
01:45who are here.
01:47And coming down to very recent times, we have all, all the pillars of democracy that are
01:52intact.
01:53Legislature, executive, judiciary, and the fourth estate, the press, and a very vibrant
01:59social media.
02:02So the country is the world's largest democracy, as you know.
02:08Every five years, we conduct the world's largest democratic exercise.
02:13Everyone is free to say as they wish and please.
02:16And that is how our country functions.
02:18It's rapidly reforming, transforming, and changing.
02:23And the trajectory has been very impressive.
02:25And I don't have to say this.
02:26You don't have to listen to me.
02:28Others are saying this.