Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten has expressed concern regarding minority rights, media freedom and the rule of law in India. He raised these concerns with local journalists prior to his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

However, Indian sources claim that these issues were not discussed during the bilateral meeting.

During Modi’s two-day visit to the Netherlands, the two leaders participated in multiple meetings and events. During the visit, an announcement was made to elevate the relationship between the two nations to a strategic partnership.

Minorities Under Intense Pressure

Jetten spoke with journalists at his official residence, the Catshuis. Two influential Dutch media outlets—de Volkskrant and NRC—reported that, just before Modi’s arrival, Jetten stated that there is concern among the Netherlands and European Union member states regarding events occurring in India under Modi’s Hindu nationalist BJP government.

A report by de Volkskrant quoted Jetten as saying that the issue concerns not only media freedom but also the rights of minorities. He noted that the Muslim community, in particular, is under intense pressure, and the same applies to many other smaller communities as well.

Jetten added that these concerns have been regularly raised with the Indian government. He expressed the view that a potential free trade agreement between the European Union and India would create opportunities to discuss not only trade but also issues such as human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

Reaction from Indian Officials

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) following the meeting, Jetten made no mention of media freedom or minority rights. In his post, he wrote that his discussions with Modi touched upon the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, energy prices, and the case of Insiya Hemani.

Following a dinner, Indian officials participated in a special press conference. During the event, a Dutch journalist asked for India’s response regarding the concerns held by the Netherlands and the European Union concerning media freedom and minority rights in India. The journalist specifically highlighted the situation of the Muslim community and other smaller communities. The Insia Hemani Issue

During Prime Minister Modi’s visit, the case of Insia Hemani became a major topic of discussion in the Dutch media.

Insia is a Dutch citizen. In September 2016, at the age of just two, she was forcibly abducted from her grandmother’s home in Amsterdam. It is alleged that her father, Shahzad Hemani, masterminded the entire operation. Insia was subsequently taken to India via Germany.

A Dutch court had granted custody of Insia to her mother, Nadia Rashid. However, for nearly a decade, she has had no contact with her daughter. Following a trial held in absentia, the Dutch court sentenced Shahzad Hemani to a prison term of over eight years. Last year, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands upheld that verdict.

India is not a signatory to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Consequently, despite the issue being raised repeatedly at the diplomatic level, no resolution has been reached.

Prior to Modi’s visit, all members of the European Parliament elected from the Netherlands sent a letter to legislators in Maharashtra, seeking their cooperation in securing Insia’s return. On May 13, the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament passed a motion urging King Willem-Alexander to raise the matter during his meeting with Prime Minister Modi.

When Prime Minister Modi arrived at the Huis ten Bosch Palace, protesters gathered outside were demanding Insia’s repatriation. Photographs published in the Dutch media showed Insia’s mother, Nadia Rashid, standing with a large placard in hand bearing the inscription: “When will Insia come home?”

Jetten told journalists that he is working to dispatch a Dutch delegation to India very soon, with the aim of engaging in discussions at the highest levels to reach a resolution.

The visit to the Netherlands was part of Prime Minister Modi’s five-nation tour. The other countries included in the itinerary were the United Arab Emirates, Sweden, Norway, and Italy. This marked his first visit to the Netherlands since 2017.