West has bad habit of commenting on others: Jaishankar slams US and Germany

BENGALURU: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticised the West for its habit of commenting on the internal matters of other countries. “The West thinks it has a God-given right to comment on internal matters of other countries”, he said on Sunday.

Jaishankar made the remarks during a ‘Meet and Greet’ interaction organised by Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya and Bengaluru Central MP P C Mohan with over 500 young voters, joggers and visitors at Cubbon Park. It was the Foreign Minister’s reaction to a question on Germany and the United States’ remarks on the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as a Member of Parliament.

Jaishankar said, “I will give you the truthful answer (on why we see West commenting on India). There are two reasons. It is because the West has a bad habit of commenting on others. They somehow think it is some kind of a God-given right. They will have to learn only by experience that if they keep doing this, other people will also start commenting and they will not like it when it happens. And I see that happening”.

He added, “The second part of the truth — In our arguments, you are inviting the people to comment on you. Then, more and more people are tempted to comment. We also need to stop giving generous invitations to the world saying there are problems in India, and (urging) America and the world (by saying), why are you standing by doing nothing? So if somebody from here goes and says why are you standing by and saying nothing, then obviously they are going to comment. Part of the problem is them, and part of the problem is us. And I think both need fixing”.

Slamming the culture of freebies by political parties, Jaishankar said, “This freebie culture — which some people in Delhi are masters of — they are doing it because they do not have the responsibility of raising resources. You can’t run a country on the basis of freebies. Somewhere, somebody has to pay for it. Anybody who is giving a freebie here is taking away something elsewhere. Freebies are a way of getting quick popularity. It is an irresponsible way”.

Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha after a Surat court convicted him in a 2019 defamation case for a remark using the surname ‘Modi’. The court sentenced the Congress leader to two years imprisonment. The sentence was suspended for 30 days during which Rahul can appeal against his conviction. The defamation case against Rahul Gandhi was filed by former BJP MLA Purnesh Modi.

Speaking about the significance of India hosting the G20 this year, Jaishankar said that the motto of India hosting G20 is getting the world ready for India and India ready for the world. “The motto of us hosting the G20 is about getting the world ready for India and India ready for the world”, he said .

“We have taken up the G20 at an important time in the world. We consulted 125 countries who are not part of the G20 and came up with the issues being faced by them. Moreover, countries generally do this (G20 meetings) in their capital cities and 2-3 other cities. Our way of doing this – and it is democratisation of foreign policy – is to do it across 60 cities, across states and Union Territories,” Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar said that India wants every city and every state to be more aware of the world because, in a globalised world, that is where our opportunities are. “While a city like Bengaluru is used to foreigners coming and visiting, for other cities, it is a big deal and they are quite excited”, he said.

“If you look at these 200 meetings and the number of people who will come, they are the most powerful influencers of global opinion. We want them to see all of India, see the diversity, see the pluralism, multiple cultures, cuisines and art and get back to their country with a more informed sense of India”, Jaishankar added.

Recently, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan said that the G20 under India’s Presidency has turned into a people’s movement. Muraleedharan was speaking on the second day of the second G20 Sherpas meeting under India’s G20 Presidency at Kumarakom village of Kerala. (ANI)