West thinks it has ‘God-given right’ to criticise other countries: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar
Responding to remarks by the United States and Germany on the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as MP, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar Sunday said the West thinks it has a “God-given right” to comment on internal matters of other countries.
He made the comment while interacting at a ‘Meet and Greet’ event organised by MPs PC Mohan and Tejasvi Surya at Cubbon Park in Bengaluru.
Jaishankar said there were two reasons why the West commented on India. “It is because the West has a bad habit of commenting on others. They somehow think it is some kind of God-given right. They will have to learn only by experience that if you keep doing this, other people will also start commenting and they will not like it when it happens. And I see that happening,” he said.
The second reason, the minister said, was that the people of the country were inviting them to comment. “We also need to stop giving generous invitations to the world saying there are problems in India,” Jaishankar said. “Few are asking America and the world why the countries were 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, part of the problem is us. And I think both need fixing,” the minister added.
Criticising the “culture of freebies” promoted by political parties, he said that the freebie culture was prevalent since some parties 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,” he said.
Later in the day, Jaishankar also attended meetings at JSS Educational Institutions, Dharwad, and Belagavi. In a tweet about his visit to Belagavi, he wrote: “A nostalgic return to Belagavi after 45 years. Enjoyed discussion with intellectuals on domestic progress and world affairs. Underlined how deeply they are connected, as well as the opportunities they present. Impressed by how Belagavi is getting connected to global supply chains.”
