A major hallmark of India’s Foreign Policy under the Modi government is their absolute disregard for foreign media coverage and so-called reports which are more often than not sponsored by anti-India elements. During the India Today Conclave, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar destroyed American and Swedish reports about India as he stated that India is not looking for anyone’s approval.
External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar seemed to be in a combative mood during the southern edition of the India Today Conclave. “You have a set of self-appointed custodians of the world who find it very difficult to stomach that somebody in India is not looking for their approval, is not willing to play the game they want it to play,” said S Jaishankar.
He added, “So, they invent their rules, their parameters, pass the judgments and make out as though it is some kind of global exercise.”
S Jaishankar was perhaps referring to the Freedom House’s report about India which was not only filled with anti-India vitriol but also distorted the Indian map as it cut-off the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir from its version of the Indian map. The report had downgraded India’s status from “free” to “partly free”.
On similar lines, V-Dem’s Democracy Report downgraded India from “world’s largest democracy” to “electoral autocracy”.
Of late, various foreign propaganda outlets and organisations have sought to hit out at the rising sentiment of nationalism in India. To this, S Jaishankar responded, “We are the nationalist guys. We have given vaccines to 70 countries in the world… Tell me about internationalist countries, how many vaccines have they given?”
“Religious Intolerance” is another keyword used by anti-India elements and S Jaishankar absolutely obliterated this argument. Reiterating the fact that everyone is allowed to practice their religion of choice in India, S Jaishankar said, “I don’t put my hand on a religious book when I take the oath of my office. Guess which country does?”
The Foreign Minister was perhaps referring to the US where traditionally, the US President takes the oath of office by putting his hand on the Bible. No such tradition is practised in India during the oath-taking ceremony of the incoming government.
Ironically, while the US government-funded Freedom House “downgraded” India’s status, the US elections have been marred by allegations of fraud and several questions are still unanswered. “…nobody questions the elections in India but the same can’t be said about these countries,” said S Jaishankar.