Eric Garcetti, the US Ambassador to India, brushed off worries about democracy in the nation, asserting that Indians excel in numerous aspects compared to Americans.

Speaking at an event organized by the Council on Foreign Relations in New Delhi on Thursday, Garcetti expressed confidence in India's democratic future. He stated, "10 years from now, India is going to be a vibrant democracy as it is today in terms of free and fair elections."

Addressing concerns about India's democracy, Garcetti highlighted unique voting practices, such as transporting voting machines to remote areas for individual voters. He remarked, "They have a law, you can't go more than two kilometers to vote. So there'll be one guy who lives in the mountains as a monk (at) someplace. They will walk for two days to bring the voting machine, execute the vote."

Garcetti also praised India's election system, citing measures to prevent cash influencing votes. He compared this to practices in the US, mentioning the tradition of cash influencing votes in cities like Philadelphia.

However, Garcetti emphasized the importance of addressing issues while maintaining a positive relationship. He stated, "We put them out. It's not the only thing. I mean, some people want us to only say that. But this is too important a relationship to spend all day long only saying that over and over."

Regarding India's state governments, Garcetti highlighted their significance and acknowledged criticisms of various political parties. Despite challenges, he expressed confidence in the US-India relationship, calling it "one of the defining relationships of the 21st century."

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