India news: PM Modi visits the Netherlands at start of Europe tour

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AdvertisementSkip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the Netherlands at the start of the European leg of his five-nation tour
• Police use tear gas and water cannons during clashes with marching farmers near Chandigarh

Here's a roundup of the biggest news stories from India on Saturday, May 16: 

Skip next section West Bengal's Abhishek Banerjee faces police probe over Amit Shah remarks05/16/2026May 16, 2026

West Bengal's Abhishek Banerjee faces police probe over Amit Shah remarks

Police in Kolkata have opened criminal proceedings against West Bengal's losing party leader Abhishek Banerjee for allegedly making inflammatory remarks against India's Home Minister Amit Shah ahead of the recent elections. 

Banerjee is the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who faced a staggering defeat by Shah's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on May 4. 

Abhishek Banerjee is also the losing Trinamool Congress' (TMC) general secretary.

The high-stakes election saw allegations of vote theft, pre- and post-poll violence, and significant tensions in the state where the BJP had never held power before.

While the details of the First Information Report (FIR) are not yet known, India's state-run Radio News said the complaint refers to remarks that were widely circulated on social media, including the MP’s official Facebook page.

After TMC lost the elections, several BJP supporters have been seen shouting insults at Abishek Banerjee outside his house in Kolkata. DW has also witnessed people shouting "chor" — Hindi for "thief" — as they passed his residence. 

Experts say BJP’s West Bengal win was more a rejection of the TMC than direct support for the BJP. People in the state have long complained about rampant corruption and lack of growth, leading to TMC's removal from power after a 15-year rule.

https://p.dw.com/p/5DphOSkip next section Farmers clash with police during march over crop prices05/16/2026May 16, 2026

Farmers clash with police during march over crop prices

Indian police deployed water cannons and fired tear gas at farmers on Friday as hundreds of them tried to break barricades and march towards the governor's residence in the Northern state of Punjab.

The farmers were marching to submit their demands to Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, according to several reports in Indian media. Farmers in India hold significant political sway and are a key vote bank.

The protest and march came after the government released its annual list of minimum support price (MSP) for certain crops. Before the march, several groups of farmers had burned copies of the government's MSP notice. 

Iran war triggers fertilizer crisis for India's farmers

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MSP is the price at which the government promises to procure certain crops from farmers, acting as a safety net against market crashes. It is announced every year by the government based on recommendations, making it more of a policy rather than a legal guarantee.

Indian farmers, especially those from the northern states of Punjab Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, have long demanded a legal guarantee of MSP for their crops.

In 2021, thousands of protesting farmers forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to repeal farm laws, which they believed would leave them vulnerable to larger corporations and deplete their negotiating power. 

A legal MSP guarantee was also a key demand at the time, which has not been fulfilled. 

Since then, farmers in smaller numbers have continued to protest at certain borders, and similar marches and clashes erupt every year when the government releases the official MSP for the upcoming crops.

More on the clashes

Authorities had granted permission for only 32 representatives from the farmers' union to submit their demands to Kataria.

However, farmers were adamant about marching in large numbers, with some reportedly clashing with the police. 

Authorities briefly detained some farmers who were later released, and claimed a few police officials sustained injuries during the scuffle.

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https://p.dw.com/p/5DpggSkip next section PM Modi set to talk semiconductors, free trade during Netherlands trip05/16/2026May 16, 2026

PM Modi set to talk semiconductors, free trade during Netherlands trip

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in the Netherlands for a two-day visit to deepen bilateral ties in trade, investment, defense, and semiconductors.

"This visit to the Netherlands is taking place at a time when the free trade agreement between India and the EU has given a significant boost to trade and investment relations," Modi said on X, posting pictures of him being welcomed in Amsterdam on Friday evening. 

"It offers the opportunity to strengthen ties in areas such as semiconductors, water, clean energy, and more," he said.

India has ramped up efforts to alter its global position as a buyer of technology to producing critical tech in collaboration with Western partners. The approach is part of New Delhi's decision to diversifybeyond China-centric supply chains after the disruptions seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent global conflicts. 

India first launched domestic chipmaking in 2021 under the "Make in India" initiative and has since expanded on the strategy by approving several projects.

Modi has previously spoken about his ambitions of "making India a leader in the global semiconductor value chain."

Apart from chips, the Netherlands is also India's largest export destination in Europe.

Modi's Europe tour comes as New Delhi pushes to finalize a free trade agreement with the European Union.

EU-India trade agreement: consequences for the economy

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In response to a reporter's question about the pending FTA agreement, a foreign ministry spokesperson said, "That is a priority. We are working with the European Union to have it agreed to at the earliest. So we will be, please keep tuned in for an immediate outcome coming up.

Modi's two days in the Netherlands

The Indian premier was greeted by the Indian diaspora in Amsterdam, where he was welcomed with several traditional dance forms, including one from Modi's home state - Garba. 

Over the two days, Modi is expected to hold bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, meet King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, and meet the business leaders of the Netherlands.

https://p.dw.com/p/5DpekSkip next section Welcome to our coverage05/16/2026May 16, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Mahima Kapoor | Karl Sexton Editor

Good morning and welcome to DW's India news blog. 

This is Mahima Kapoor from the New Delhi bureau, and I will be your guide through the day’s biggest headlines from India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Netherlands, beginning the European leg of his five-nation tour. India has ramped up its diplomatic efforts and in the last month, in an effort to limit the fallout from the Iran war.

Modi's tour of Europe, which comes after a visit to the UAE on Friday, also gives Modi a chance to finalize bilateral trade and strategic agreements with European nations amid a larger EU trade agreement, as India looks to move away from its dependence on China.

At home, Indian farmers once again faced tear gas and water cannons as some of them marched towards the residence of the governor of the Northern state of Punjab. Farmers from the northern state of Punjab and Haryana have long been unhappy about official minimum support prices and what they call, Modi's 'anti-farmer' character. 

Meanwhile, India's weather agency has said that monsoons, aka the rainy season, which is critical for India's agricultural sector, will arrive earlier than expected, hitting the southern state of Kerala as soon as May 26.

Stick with us as we break everything down for you.

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