The 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers meeting between India and the US is going to go down as a historic event. And there is just one reason why? Dr S. Jaishankar’s witty responses that have exposed the hypocrisy of the US political elite. Meanwhile, Dr S. Jaishankar has become a darling of the masses. And you need to go no further than some reactions on Twitter to confirm this. Twitter is overflowing with positive remarks and some great memes about India’s Minister of External Affairs.
Jaishankar becomes a star on social media
If you turn on your Twitter, you will find many posts and memes celebrating Dr S. Jaishankar’s fine diplomatic skills.
The most popular amongst them, of course, relates to the reply given by the External Affairs Minister to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s remark about monitoring human rights abuses in India.
.@DrSJaishankar woke up in Washington this morning, and he ain’t playin. pic.twitter.com/RX2odGc8g7
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) April 13, 2022
India doesn’t care what the US does with CAATSA. Jaishankar: “It is their legislation and whatever has to be done has to be done by them.”https://t.co/hSNymzP6WR
— Derek J. Grossman (@DerekJGrossman) April 13, 2022
https://twitter.com/Sidha_memer/status/1514471585322700801?s=20&t=bycw43wP2BPn6CWwhxVNAw
"S" in S. Jaishankar stands for SWAG. pic.twitter.com/doTCwOC27G
— Jahazi (@Oye_Jahazi) April 14, 2022
What explains Dr S. Jaishankar’s growing popularity?
It is just as if people were always waiting for one such top diplomat. Make no mistake, India’s diplomatic establishment has always been prompt and sharp. However, it has also been low-profile and somewhat subdued. This is the first time that the country has an External Affairs Minister who can go to the US and tell the Americans directly to their face that if you have concerns about the human rights situation in India, India too has concerns about human rights abuses in your country.
In a way, Dr S. Jaishankar reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambition of making India a global power and ensuring that New Delhi remains at the core of a fast-changing global scenario. Also, Dr S. Jaishankar’s functioning bears semblance to PM Modi’s frank and straightforward diplomacy without losing the subtlety that a career diplomat carries. And this is why Indians are admiring him.
What makes Dr S. Jaishankar a brilliant diplomat?
Dr S. Jaishankar is among the best diplomats in the world. So, what makes him so special? Well, there are two reasons-
- He says what needs to be said.
- He says that without beating around the bush or unnecessarily convoluting his statements.
Take his three major statements in the US for example. Firstly, the energy purchases issue. Dr S. Jaishankar could have given one long statement which would not have hit the nail on the head. But he simply pointed out that India’s purchases in a month would be less than what Europe buys in an afternoon from Russia.
Read more: Jaishankar makes it clear to US, “You’re barking up the wrong tree”
If you're looking at(India's)energy purchases from Russia, I'd suggest your attention should be on Europe. We buy some energy necessary for our energy security. But I suspect, looking at figures, our purchases for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon: EAM pic.twitter.com/lyzwttCvtM
— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2022
Similarly, he could have given one long explanation after Blinken brought up the issue of human rights violations in India. But he was precise and came straight to the point- we too have our view on the human rights situation in the United States.
Similarly, on the CAATSA question, he didn’t seem to be defending awkwardly. He had a simple statement to make- “It is their legislation and whatever has to be done has to be done by them.”
India doesn’t care what the US does with CAATSA. Jaishankar: “It is their legislation and whatever has to be done has to be done by them.”https://t.co/hSNymzP6WR
— Derek J. Grossman (@DerekJGrossman) April 13, 2022
Also Read: ‘Realism, not Moralism’ – S Jaishankar roasts VK Krishna Menon to crisp in Parliament
A career diplomat, he has mastered the art of conveying his message without sounding needlessly offensive or circumlocutory. Yet, he is an effective communicator and has the ability to expose hypocrisy. This is what makes Dr S. Jaishankar one of the most adored External Affairs Ministers to date.
He is absolutely 💯 brilliant. And we are so glad that he is EAM.
Thanks to Modi and team for giving chance to such brilliant people, instead if tired, creepy politicians