During an interaction with the Indian community in Geneva, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar indirectly criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for publicly running down the country. He emphasized that India’s image on the global stage is built through hard work and resilience, not instant fixes. Jaishankar defended India’s human rights record and criticized international ranking institutions for unfair assessments, while highlighting the importance of strong domestic capabilities in shaping foreign policy.
BulletsIn
- EAM S. Jaishankar indirectly criticized Rahul Gandhi for publicly criticizing India abroad.
- He emphasized that if one criticizes their own country in public, other nations will follow suit.
- Jaishankar stressed that life is about hard work and diligence, not instant success (“khat-a-khat”).
- He defended India’s unique position on human rights, emphasizing its diversity and rejection of uniformity.
- The EAM criticized international human rights ranking institutions for placing India poorly, calling their assessments politically motivated.
- He highlighted that India’s diversity enables debates and divergences, which are signs of a healthy society.
- Jaishankar took veiled shots at Western countries for lecturing on human rights after exploiting the world for centuries.
- He stressed the importance of projecting confidence based on strong domestic capabilities in international relations.
- Jaishankar addressed criticisms of India’s manufacturing sector and stated that progress takes time, not quick fixes.
- He indirectly referenced Rahul Gandhi’s refusal to hold a ministerial position during the UPA era, emphasizing that real progress requires commitment and effort.
