NEW DELHI: Exterior affairs minister S Jaishankar not too long ago took a number of potshots on the opposition’s criticism of the federal government’s worldwide insurance policies and framed lots of India’s international relationships by citing examples from the epic Mahabharata.
Talking on Saturday whereas interacting with the viewers in Maharashtra’s Pune, throughout a question-answer session on the launch of ‘Bharat Marg’, the Marathi translation of his e book ‘The India Approach’, the minister spoke at size on a number of points:
- ‘Land occupied by China in 1962’
International minister SJaishankar claimed the land that opposition leaders say has been occupied by China “was in fact occupied in 1962”.
He additionally took a swipe at Congress chiefRahul Gandhi , who not too long ago spoke about an official report on lack of territory in Ladakh. “Sometimes they spread news that they know is false. They project as if it happened just now, when it, in fact, happened in 1962… They won’t talk about that,” he mentioned.
On lack of territory, Rahul Gandhi not too long ago cited a report by a senior police officer in Ladakh that mentioned India has misplaced entry to 26 of 65 patrolling factors in Jap Ladakh. However Jaishankar countered it stating: “If I would need to know something (on China), I won’t go to the Chinese ambassador to get inputs, but to my military leadership.” Notably, in 2017, when India and China have been locked in a standoff on the border space abutting Bhutan, the Congress mentioned Rahul Gandhi had met the ambassadors of the 2 neighbouring international locations.
- ‘Lord Krishna, Hanuman biggest diplomats’
Exterior affairs minister S Jaishankar mentioned Lord Krishna and Lord Hanuman have been the best diplomats of the world.
“If one looks at them in the perspective of diplomacy, what situation they were in, what mission was given to them, how they had handled the situation … Hanumanji, he had gone ahead of the mission, he had contacted Goddess Sita, burntLanka …he was a multi-purpose diplomat,” Jaishankar mentioned.
The minister mentioned for the world’s 10 huge strategic ideas pertaining to worldwide relations in as we speak’s discourse, he may give an equal for each idea from the epic Mahabharat. “If you say today it is a multi-polar world, at that time what was happening inKurukshetra (the site of the battle of Mahabharat), that was multi-polar Bharat, where there were different rajya (kingdoms), they were told ‘you are with them, you are with me’…a couple of them were non-aligned…like Balram andRukma .”
He mentioned now individuals say it’s a globalised world, there’s interdependence, there’s constraint. “What was Arjuna’s dilemma, it was constraint, that he was emotionally interdependent … that how do I fight against my relatives. That was not material interdependence, but it was emotional interdependence,” he mentioned.
“We sometimes say Pakistan did this or that, and we will show strategic patience. The best example of strategic patience is the way Lord Krishna handled Shishupal. He (Lord Krishna) forgave him 100 times,” he mentioned. - ‘Hindu nationalist however no Christian nationalist?’
Jaishankar additionally reprimanded international newspapers for reserving adjectives like “Hindu nationalist” for the Indian authorities.
“If you read foreign newspapers, they use words like Hindu Nationalist government. In America or Europe, they won’t say Christian Nationalist… these adjectives are reserved for us. They don’t understand that this country is ready to do more with the world and not less with the world,” mentioned Jaishankar.
“If you look at the last 9 years, there is no doubt that our government and politics of the day are more nationalistic…I don’t think there is anything to be apologetic about it. The same nationalist people have helped countries abroad and moved forward in disaster situations in other countries,” he mentioned.
- ‘
Pandavas couldn’t select family, we won’t select our neighbours’
“China is an unusual neighbour. We have many neighbours, but China may become a global power or superpower soon. Living next to a global power has its own challenges,” mentioned Jaishankar whereas lamenting over the geographical limitations of India to decide on its neighbours.
“It is a reality to us … Pandavas could not choose relatives, we can’t choose our neighbours. Naturally, we hope good sense prevails” mentioned EAM Jaishankar when requested if “rogue nation (Pakistan), which happens to be a nuclear power, will be an asset or a liability.”
- EAM equates Pakistan, China ties to Karan and Duryodhan
Pakistan has obtained backlash from the worldwide group for its inefficiency in combatting terrorism, mentioned Jaishankar.
“It needs to mend its ways in order to have other countries aid it in times of distress. Pakistan now has very few allies, out of which Turkey is not in a position to help Pakistan, and China never gives grants but only loans.”
Talking about rules-based order, Jaishankar mentioned: “Karan and Duryodhan are violating rules-based order. Karan and Duryodhan’s friendship did not benefit either of them or their families. It didn’t make any positive impact on society. Moreover, it devoured their lives and caused massive destruction, irreversible damage and abysmal suffering to their kith and kin.” - ‘No different PM would have made me minister’
Jaishankar additionally mentioned that no different Prime Minister aside from PM Modi would have appointed him as a minister.
“For me to become foreign secretary, was frankly the limit of my ambition, I had never even dreamt of becoming a minister. I am not sure any Prime Minister, other than Narendra Modi would have made me minister,” he mentioned.
He additionally shared his expertise of working as a international secretary with former international ministerSushma Swaraj . “We had a very good minister,Sushma ji and we got along personally very well. I would say our combination was very good, a minister-secretary combination. But, I did learn one thing, there is a difference in responsibilities, there is a difference in the overall sense of being a secretary and a minister.”
(With inputs from businesses)
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