PM says India has over 2,500 parties, sets off buzz in Ghana Parliament

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jul 3, 2025 16:23 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to Ghana’s Parliament on Thursday saw a moment of shared surprise and smiles when he said, “India has over 2,500 political parties,” pausing to smile as murmurs rippled through the chamber.

“I repeat, 2,500 political parties,” he chuckled, prompting louder reactions from the parliamentarians. PM Modi addressed the Ghana Parliament in English.

Speaking on democracy, PM Modi described India as the "mother of democracy," stressing the importance of openness and dialogue in a democratic setup.

“True democracy promotes discussion and debate. It unites people, it supports dignity and promotes human rights,” he said.

"Hamare liye loktantra system nahi, sanskaar hai," PM Modi said in Hindi. He then repeated the sentence in English, " For us, democracy is not just a system, it is a part of our fundamental values."

He highlighted India’s vast diversity as a strength of its democratic fabric. “Twenty different parties governing different states, 22 official languages, thousands of dialects. This is also the reason that people who have come to India have always been welcomed with open hearts,” he said.

“The same spirit helps Indians integrate easily wherever they go,” PM Modi added.

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