External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent criticism of the Narendra Modi-led government during his US visit, saying that inviting the world to intervene in India’s issues would mean bringing in larger problems for the country.
“Every country has issues and diversity… people can have views, they can have opinions, but if you say that in India, there are big problems and the world should do something about it, then you are inviting bigger problems,” Jaishankar said while addressing a gathering of students.
The Union Minister has been critical of Rahul’s comments and has said that it is his “habit” to criticize the country in a foreign land. I don’t think that taking the politics of the country abroad is in the interest of the country. And I also don’t think that he will gain credibility because of it,” he had said.
This comes days after Rahul Gandhi, who was recently on a six-day, three-city tour of the United States, criticized the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for controlling all the instruments of politics in India. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul said, “I think if you sat Modi ji down next to God, Modi ji would start explaining to God how the universe works. And God would get confused that what have I created.”
Soon after his remarks, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) targeted Rahul, saying that the Congress leader does not back down from “insulting the country “on his foreign trips.
Asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed the system in India and that the country has become ready to respond to global problems, Jaishankar said, “As someone who has spent the last few years working very closely with Modiji, I have never met anyone who has as much faith in the future of the country as in its youth… We have a leader with a vision — somebody with a strong sense of commitment to the country.”
Responding to questions regarding India’s G20 presidency, he said, “With G20, we are laying a foundation for what Modiji calls Amrit Kaal.”
He added that one of the biggest benefits of hosting the G20 is the tourism boost it’ll provide. “There are countries which have 20 percent of their GDP coming in from tourism. Infrastructure, faster and cleaner cities, better talent, and a stronger economy will help increase foreign investment in India.”
(With inputs from agencies)
