PM Modi Jokes About Jhalmuri in Netherlands, Drawing Laughter From Audience

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sparked laughter and applause while addressing the Indian community in the Netherlands on Saturday after making a humorous reference to West Bengal’s famous street snack, jhalmuri, during a speech that also highlighted the BJP’s recent electoral success in the state. The light-hearted moment came as PM Modi praised India’s democratic participation and the enthusiasm shown by voters across the country during recent elections.

Speaking at a community event attended by members of the Indian diaspora, PM Modi referred to the BJP’s victory in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections. As the audience cheered loudly, the prime minister smiled and joked, “Kya jhalmuri yahan bhi pahoch gayi?” (Has jhalmuri reached here too?), drawing immediate laughter and applause from the crowd. The remark was seen as a callback to one of the memorable moments from his Bengal campaign trail earlier this year.

During his election campaign in West Bengal, PM Modi had visited Jhargram, where he stopped at a roadside stall to eat jhalmuri, a popular Bengali snack made with puffed rice, spices, and vegetables. The images and videos of the prime minister interacting casually with the vendor had gone viral on social media and became widely discussed during the election season. His latest mention of the snack in the Netherlands instantly connected with the audience, many of whom appeared familiar with the moment.

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The Prime Minister also used the event to underline India’s growing democratic participation and record voter turnout. He noted that states such as Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry witnessed voter participation levels ranging between 80 and 90 percent in recent elections. PM Modi particularly highlighted the increasing participation of women voters, saying the trend reflected the growing enthusiasm among citizens towards democratic processes across the country.

“In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, 64 crore people cast their votes. That is more than the total population of the European Union,” PM Modi said during the address. He added that India takes pride in giving every citizen the opportunity to participate in democracy and described the country as the “Mother of Democracy." According to him, more than 90 crore voters are currently registered in India, making it one of the largest democratic exercises in the world.

The Prime Minister also praised the Indian community in the Netherlands for strengthening ties between the two nations through culture, business, and education. Referring to the Surinami-Hindustani community, he acknowledged their efforts in preserving Indian traditions and heritage over generations despite being far from their ancestral homeland. He described the diaspora as a cultural and emotional bridge connecting India and the Netherlands.

PM Modi further highlighted the growing contribution of Indian professionals and students in the Netherlands, especially in technology and innovation-driven sectors. He also pointed to increasing engagement through sports like cricket and hockey, saying such exchanges continue to deepen people-to-people ties between the two countries.

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