‘It criticises India’s democracy because…' S Jaishankar takes aim at western media over India's elections criticism

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar criticised Western media during a forum for nationalist thinkers in Hyderabad on Tuesday, accusing them of interfering in India's elections and playing a role akin to "political players." Jaishankar expressed frustration at what he perceived as unfair criticism from Western media outlets.

Jaishankar's Remarks on Western Media

Jaishankar highlighted the Western media's criticism of India's democracy, noting that their critiques were not due to a lack of information but rather an attempt to influence Indian politics. He cited an article questioning the timing of elections in India due to the hot weather, emphasizing that Indian voter turnout surpassed Western records even in challenging conditions.

The minister characterised these criticisms as "global politics" intruding into India's domestic affairs and asserted that such interventions are unwelcome. He called for a confident response to these external criticisms, emphasizing the need to defend India's electoral processes, election commission, and overall democratic system.

Key Quotes from Jaishankar's Speech:

1. On Western Media's Role: "These are politics. These are our domestic politics going global, global politics intruding into India."
2. Criticism of Western Media: "They actually think they are part of our electorate… It's time today that we disabuse them."
3. Defending India's Institutions: "We need to stand up to these kinds of attacks and criticisms and rankings because they will question everything."
4. Confidence in BJP's Leadership: "The BJP thinks it's going to win very big... It is an expression of confidence based on what we have delivered."
5. India's Global Standing: "When we got our G20 chair presidency... we were actually able to forge a consensus."

#WATCH | Hyderabad, Telangana: At the forum for Nationalist Thinkers- Hyderabad Chapter 'Foreign Policy The India Way: From Diffidence To Confidence', EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "How much interest there is in being connected to India that there is. During our G-20 presidency, many… pic.twitter.com/ImlabYt9PW

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2024

Jaishankar also voiced support for the BJP government's decisions, asserting that they would benefit India's society and future generations. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and highlighted India's successful hosting of the G20 summit as evidence of the country's capabilities on the global stage.