External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, stating that he was taking classes on China from the Chinese ambassador. He made the comment during a speech on the ‘Foreign Policy of the Modi Government,’ in response to Gandhi’s criticism of the government’s handling of relations with China.
Jaishankar referred to Gandhi’s meeting with the Chinese ambassador during the Doklam crisis and suggested that new territory had been lost to China’s “salami slicing.” Jaishankar also hit out at misleading narratives and misrepresentations in the media about the situation.
This is not the first time Jaishankar has criticized Gandhi for his comments relating to China. Earlier in March, he had criticized Gandhi for speaking admiringly about China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and ignoring the fact that it goes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which violates India’s national integrity and sovereignty.
Jaishankar also discussed India-Iran relations and the importance of the Chabahar port, stating that India is pushing hard for the port because it provides access to Central Asia, and India needs to find a way around Pakistan to do so.
Regarding his interaction with Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Goa, Jaishankar said that he believes it is not in India’s interest to be locked into perpetual hostility with Pakistan, but that India must stand by its red lines. He also criticized Pakistan for conducting terrorism and blocking connectivity in the region.
