New Delhi: India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Thursday hit out at senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his attacks on the Narendra Modi government during his foreign visits, saying it was not in the national interest to take the country’s internal matters abroad.
“The world is watching us. Rahul Gandhi has a habit of criticizing India abroad. I don’t think taking national politics out of the country is in the national interest,” Jaishankar said at a press conference while reacting to Rahul’s recent remarks.
Rahul Gandhi during his visit to the United States had commented that Prime Minister Modi was trying to drive the Indian car by only looking in the rear-view mirror which would lead to “one accident after another.”
Gandhi is in the habit of criticizing India and commenting on domestic politics whenever he travels out of the country, Jaishankar said while fielding several questions on the Congress leader.
The foreign minister dismissed Rahul’s allegations that democratic institutions were being weakened in the country while expressing confidence that the BJP would win the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Jaishankar made the remarks while addressing a special media briefing on foreign policy during nine years of the Modi government alongside ministers of state V Muraleedharan, Meenakshi Lekhi and Rajkumar Ranjan Singh.
Jaishankar said, India now is perceived by the global community as a trusted collaborator and a player with an independent stance at a time when the world is being buffeted by challenges such as the Ukraine crisis. After nine years in power, the Modi government has a “very solid report card” as it has been able to make the country more secure while taking steps to ensure the best interests of millions of Indians living and working abroad.
