New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar hit out at Rahul Gandhi over latter’s criticism of handling of India’s foreign affairs.
Tweeting a long thread to Rahul’s allegations, the EAM asserted that India’s major partnerships were stronger and international standing higher and today, India is engaging China on more equal terms politically.
Jaishankar made it a point to reply to Rahul’s questions one by one and gave a pointed reply to rebut all his allegations.
“Rahul Gandhi hs questions on Foreign Policy. Here are some answers: Our major partn’ships are strongr & internat’l standng higher.Witness regular summits&informal meetngs wth US Russia Europe & Japan. India engages China on more equal terms politically. Ask the analysts,” Jaishankar said.
.@RahulGandhi hs questions on Foreign Policy. Here are some answers:
•Our major partn’ships are strongr & internat’l standng higher.Witness regular summits&informal meetngs wth #US #Russia #Europe & #Japan.India engages #China on more equal terms politically.
Ask the analysts. https://t.co/GPf17JWSac
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 17, 2020
The minister said that India speaks its mind more openly now on various issues including the South China Sea.
“We speak our mind more openly now. On CPEC, on BRI, on South China Sea, on UN-sanctioned terrorists, etc. Ask the media,” he said.
Jaishankar compared the allocations made to ramp up border infrastructure during the rule of Congress-led UPA and NDA governments.
•We speak our mind more openly now. On #CPEC, on #BRI, on South China Sea, on UN-sanctioned terrorists, etc.
Ask the media.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 17, 2020
“And address the border infrastructure imbalance legacy. Compare 2014-20 with 2008-14. Budget up by 280%, road building by 32%, bridges by 99% and tunnels by 6 times. Ask our Jawans.”
With Gandhi mentioning Hambantota Port in his reference about Sri Lanka, Jaishankar mentioned that the agreement was concluded in 2008 when UPA was in power.
“And some facts on our neighbourhood: The Hambantota Port agreement between SriLanka and China was concluded in 2008. Ask those who dealt with it. Difficult ties with Maldives, after India watched President Nasheed being toppled in 2012, now stand transformed. Ask our businesses,” he said.
And some facts on our #neighbourhood:
•The Hambantota Port agreement between #SriLanka and China was concluded in 2008.
Ask those who dealt with it.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 17, 2020
Jaishankar also talked of the surgical and aerial strikes conducted during the NDA government on the terror targets in Pakistan. He mentioned about Balochistan finding a mention in the joint statement issued by Manmohan Singh and his Pakistan counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani on fighting terrorism at Sharm el-Sheikh for which the then government faced a lot of criticism.
“And Pakistan (that you skipped) surely notes the difference between Balakot & Uri on the one hand, and Sharm-el-Sheikh, Havana & 26/11 on the other. Ask yourself,” Jaishankar said.
•And #Pakistan (that you skipped) surely notes the difference between Balakot & Uri on the one hand, and Sharm-el-Sheikh, Havana & 26/11 on the other.
Ask yourself.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 17, 2020
Jaishankar referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Nepal in 2104, which was the first by an Indian PM to the neighbouring country in 17 years.
“A settled land boundary (2015) with Bangladesh; opens path to more development and transit. And terrorists no longer find safe haven there. Ask our security. Nepal after 17 years is getting Prime Ministerial visits. And a swathe of developmental projects: power, fuel, housing, hospital, roads, etc. Ask their citizens,” he said.
•#Bhutan finds a stronger security and development partner. And unlike 2013, they don’t worry about their cooking gas.
Ask their households.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 17, 2020
“Bhutan finds a stronger security and development partner. And unlike 2013, they don’t worry about their cooking gas. Ask their households. Afghanistan sees completed projects (Salma Dam, Parliament), expanded training and serious connectivity. Ask the Afghan street,” he added.
•#Bhutan finds a stronger security and development partner. And unlike 2013, they don’t worry about their cooking gas.
Ask their households.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 17, 2020
Rahul tweeted video, blamed Modi govt for ‘blunders’
Earlier today, Gandhi targeted the central government over the India-China stand-off, stating since 2014 Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “constant blunders and indiscretions” have fundamentally weakened the country.
Since 2014, the PM’s constant blunders and indiscretions have fundamentally weakened India and left us vulnerable.
Empty words don’t suffice in the world of geopolitics. pic.twitter.com/XM6PXcRuFh
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 17, 2020
“What is it about India’s situation that has made China act in such an aggressive way? What is it about this moment in time that allowed China to take such an aggressive stand against a country like India?” he asked. Gandhi said “empty words don’t suffice in the world of geopolitics”. (ANI)
