There are sometimes “things bigger than politics” when one steps outside the country, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday, days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi repeatedly attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government during his ongoing US visit.
Speaking to Indian Americans in Santa Clara, California, earlier this week, Gandhi, a former MP and head of the Congress party called Prime Minister Modi a “specimen” and criticized his administration’s policies on a number of fronts.
After attending the BRICS foreign ministers meeting, Jaishankar stated that he can talk for himself and does not do politics while traveling abroad. He made this statement at a diaspora gathering in Cape Town.
“Look, I said I can only talk for myself I try when I go abroad not to do politics.” “I’m perfectly prepared to argue and argue very vigorously at home. Okay, so you will never find me wanting in that regard,” he said in response to a question.
“But I think you know, even a democratic culture has a particular collective responsibility. There is a national interest there is a collective image. There are sometimes things bigger than politics and when you step outside the country, I think that’s important to remember.
“So I might differ strongly with someone. I could say to you, I differ with them. But how I counter it, I would like to go back home and do it. And watch me when I get back,” India’s top diplomat said.
According to Jaishankar, one aspect of Indian foreign policy is currently very focused on ensuring the well-being of Indian nationals abroad.
According to him, procedures that can respond to challenging circumstances must be implemented because Indians are now more globally oriented.
“Sometimes they can be very country-specific. We had a very nasty situation in Sudan a few weeks ago, and 5,000 Indians died last year, when the fighting started in Ukraine. We had more than 20,000 Indians now. In fact, when I look at these last nine years, almost every year, we’ve had one situation somewhere.
“So, it’s something which will keep happening. And we have that fundamental obligation today to take care of Indian Indians. Working, living, traveling abroad,” he said. “It could be something like providing a flight, it could even be sometimes there are people who are stuck abroad, who have no money who are stuck in cases, they can’t afford it. You know, we, unfortunately, have cases sometimes that people will pass away,” he added.
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