Jaishankar reminds Rahul of Balakot
Mounting a strong defence of the Narendra Modi Government’s foreign policy, external affairs minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Friday lambasted senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who has accused the NDA Government of bungling India’s foreign policy. Sharply criticising Mr Gandhi, the EAM reminded him of the difference between India’s strong response of surgical strikes following the Uri and Pulwama terror attacks on one hand during the tenure of the Modi Govermment and the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai on the other hand which had taken place during the UPA-1 rule in 2008 when India did not retaliate militarily against terrorists on Pakistani soil. EAM Jaishankar also said that “India engages China on more equal terms politically” now, hinting that it was not so during the UPA rule.
Mr Gandhi had alleged that “since 2014, the PM’s constant blunders and indiscretions have fundamentally weakened India and left us vulnerable” and that “empty words don’t suffice in the world of geopolitics”.
But the EAM hit back, saying, “And Pakistan (that you skipped) surely notes the difference between Balakot and Uri on the one hand and Sharm-el-Sheikh, Havana and 26/11 on the other. Ask yourself.”
The EAM also said, “Our major partnerships are stronger and international standing higher. Witness regular Summits and informal meetings with US, Russia, Europe and Japan. India engages China on more equal terms politically. Ask the analysts.” He added, “We speak our mind more openly now. On CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor), on South China Sea, on UNsanctioned terrorists etc. Ask the media.”
EAM Jaishankar further asked Mr Gandhi to note the difference on the border infrastructure legacy issue and compare the 2014-20 period to the 200814 period, noting that now “budget was up by 280 percent, road building by 32 percent, bridges by 99 percent, and tunnels by six times”. He also reminded Mr. Gandhi how the (controversial) Hambantota port agreement between China and Sri Lanka was inked in 2008 under the nose of the UPA Government in India while then Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed was “toppled” in 2012 again under the nose of the UPA Government.