Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has criticized the West for its habit of commenting on internal matters of other countries.
“The West thinks it has a God-given right to comment on internal matters of other countries,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday. It was the Foreign Minister’s reaction to a question on Germany and the United States’ remarks on the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as a Member of Parliament.
Jaishankar said, “I will give you the truthful answer (on why we see West commenting on India). There are two reasons. 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 they keep doing this, other people will also start commenting and they will not like it when it happens. And I see that happening.”
He added, “The second part of the truth – In our arguments, you are inviting the people to comment on you. Then more and more people are tempted to comment. We also need to stop giving generous invitations to the world saying there are problems in India, and (urging) America and the world (by saying), why are you standing by 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, and part of the problem is us. And I think both need fixing.”
Notably, Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha after a Gujarat Court convicted him in a 2019 defamation case for a remark using the surname ‘Modi’. The court sentenced the Congress leader to 2 years imprisonment. The sentence was later suspended for 30 days during which Rahul Gandhi can appeal against his conviction.
The defamation case against Rahul Gandhi was filed by former BJP MLA Purnesh Modi.
Rahul Gandhi was elected to Lok Sabha in 2019 from Wayanad in Kerala. The party has said that it will challenge the Surat court verdict in a higher court.
