External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took an indirect swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during an address to the Indian community in Geneva, Switzerland. Speaking about the infrastructural development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, S Jaishankar emphasized that achieving success and development required hard work and perseverance, not quick fixes, contrasting this view with Gandhi’s popular “khata-khat” promise during the 2019 general elections.
The phrase “khata-khat,” used by Rahul Gandhi in his election campaign, implied swift and easy solutions to India’s socio-economic issues. Gandhi had repeatedly pledged during the 2019 elections to instantly transfer money into the bank accounts of women if Congress was voted into power. However, S Jaishankar, without naming Gandhi directly, dismissed the notion that such rapid changes could be realistically implemented. “Life is not ‘khata-khat,’ life is hard work and diligence,” S Jaishankar remarked, stressing that sustained effort is essential for building infrastructure and human capital.
S Jaishankar further elaborated on India’s developmental trajectory, highlighting the Modi government’s focus on creating policies that would lead to long-term growth and the necessity of fostering both infrastructure and manufacturing. He asserted, “Anybody who’s held a job and laboured at it knows that we have to work hard at it.” This statement clearly positioned the government’s developmental philosophy as one that values consistent effort over immediate results.
Gandhi’s use of the “khata-khat” phrase became widely known during his campaign and was even referenced by Prime Minister Modi during election rallies to criticize the Congress party for its alleged failure to bring tangible development during its rule. The phrase turned into a social media trend, but the Modi government seized on it to reinforce its own message of long-term vision and perseverance.
In his speech, S Jaishankar also emphasized the importance of manufacturing for India’s rise as a global power. He argued that technological development, which is key to becoming a major global player, cannot be achieved without developing a strong manufacturing base. “There are people who say we are incapable of it, that we should not even attempt it. But can you be a major power without manufacturing?” he questioned.
S Jaishankar’s comments come shortly after Rahul Gandhi, during an interaction with students at the University of Texas, pointed to China’s manufacturing dominance as a reason for its economic stability, claiming that India and Western countries suffer from unemployment issues because they lack strong production capabilities.
S Jaishankar’s remarks in Geneva align with the government’s broader message that India’s progress is being built through hard work, planning, and infrastructural development, rather than through quick promises of instant relief.
