New Delhi: 

Two of the world’s biggest democracies should do more to strengthen democratic institutions, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today during his India visit.

“Shared values – freedom and equality – are key and none of us have done enough. We need to strengthen our democratic institutions. This is at the core of our relationship, beyond strategic and economic ties,” Mr Blinken said.

“One of the elements Americans admire most is fundamental freedom and human rights. That’s how we define India. India’s democracy is powered by free-thinking citizens,” Mr Blinken said.

Mr Blinken told civil society groups – his first appointment before meeting Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi – that the US and India are “connected by shared values” such as rule of law and freedom of religion.

“Both of our democracies are works in progress… As I said before, sometimes that process is painful. Sometimes it’s ugly. But the strength of democracy is to embrace it,” Mr Blinken said.

The Modi government has faced criticism over growing use of anti-terrorism legislation and sedition laws to arrest campaigners, journalists and students.