Drooling over China, dismissive about India: Jaishankar on Rahul Gandhi

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has lashed out at Rahul Gandhi for “drooling over” China while being dismissive about India during his recent visit to the UK.

Jaishankar’s comments came during an interactive session at the India Today Conclave 2023 on Saturday (March 18) — days after the Congress leader targeted the external affairs minister and the Centre on their approach to dealing with challenges from China.

“Panda huggers”

Referring to comments made at the conclave by US-based author Michael Pillsbury, the minister said, “When Panda huggers tried to be China hawks, it does not fly.”

In his remarks, Pillsbury had referred to some “Panda huggers” in the US.

Also read: If democracy was functioning, I would be allowed to speak: Rahul Gandhi

“I also, like many others, followed some of what Rahul Gandhi said when he was in the UK. Obviously, a lot of it is politics. I am putting that aside. There is a discount when it comes to politics,” the minister said replying to a question.

“I am troubled as a citizen of India when I see somebody drooling over China and being dismissive about India. And I would give you examples. He puts his description suo motu of China in that Cambridge talk,” Jaishankar said.

“You know what’s the word that comes to his mind when he talks of China? Harmony. His one-word description of China is ‘harmony’; his one word description of India is ‘discord’,” Jaishankar added.

“Talks admiringly of China”

The external affairs minister, replying to a question, also cited Gandhi’s comments relating to China’s manufacturing capabilities.

“He talks admiringly of how China is the greatest manufacturer… And yes, China has done a tremendous job… But when it comes to manufacturing in India, he runs it down in every possible way,” Jaishankar said.

Also read: BJP likes to believe it will be in power eternally: Rahul Gandhi in London

“He says Make in India won’t work. I mean when you made Covaxin, the Congress party was saying Covaxin does not work. You can have objective assessments of the progress of other countries. There is nothing wrong with that. But in this current situation, to talk of a competitive relationship…,” the minister said.

“Undermining national morale”

Jaishankar also accused Gandhi of undermining India’s national morale.

“You are telling me I am scared. I am asking you, why is somebody undermining national morale like this? It is not just the economy, let’s even look at security. He talks about connectivity; he speaks admiringly in the same talk about the Belt and Road Initiative,” he said.

“He compares Belt and Road with Yellow river in China gushing forth…. Guys, the Belt and Road goes through PoK (Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir). It violates our national integrity and sovereignty. He does not have a word to say about that,” Jaishankar added.

Also read: Rahul Gandhi in London: ‘At the heart of BJP’s ideology is cowardice’

Gandhi’s recent comments at the Cambridge University that Indian democracy is under attack and several politicians, including himself, are under surveillance, invited sharp reactions from the BJP, which accused him of maligning the country’s image on foreign soil after facing successive electoral setbacks.

“Everybody knows and it’s in the news a lot that Indian democracy is under pressure and under attack. The institutional framework, which is required for a democracy — parliament, a free press, the judiciary, and just the idea of mobilisation — these are all getting constrained. We are facing an attack on the basic structure of Indian democracy,” Gandhi had said.

Gandhi’s swipe at Jaishankar

While speaking on the two divergent perspectives of the US and China since World War II, the Congress leader said that in addition to shedding manufacturing jobs, the US had become less open after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. Meanwhile, China, he said, idolises harmony through organisation around the Chinese Communist Party.

During his interaction with the Indian diaspora organised by the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) UK chapter, Gandhi took a swipe at Jaishankar for his remarks on China during an interview.

Also read: Situation on India-China border ‘quite dangerous’, says Jaishankar

“If you notice the statement of the Foreign Minister, he said China is much more powerful than us. To think China is more powerful than us, how can I pick a fight with them? At the heart of the ideology is cowardice,” Gandhi had said.

At an India Insights event organised by the Indian Journalists Association (IJA), Gandhi expressed regret that democratic parts of the world, including the US and Europe, have failed to notice that a large chunk of democracy has come undone.

(With agency inputs)