Rahul Gandhi calls Indian diplomats ‘arrogant’, Jaishankar says they are 'just confident'

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday (May 21) took Rahul Gandhi to task for referring to Indian Foreign Service (IFS) personnel as “arrogant”. The minister said what Gandhi was referring to is not arrogance but confidence in defending national interest.

A day before, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had participated in the “Ideas for India” conference in London. Speaking at the event, he said European bureaucrats tell him that “Indian Foreign Service has completely changed, they don’t listen to anything, they’re arrogant”. Gandhi also said that he had been told that the Indian diplomats were “telling us what…orders they’re getting”.

Yes, the Indian Foreign Service has changed.

Yes, they follow the orders of the Government.

Yes, they counter the arguments of others.

No, its not called Arrogance.

It is called Confidence.

And it is called defending National Interest. pic.twitter.com/eYynoKZDoW

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 21, 2022

In response, Jaishankar, himself an ex-IFS, tweeted: “Yes, the Indian Foreign Service has changed. Yes, they follow the orders of the Government. Yes, they counter the arguments of others. No, it’s not called Arrogance. It is called Confidence. And it is called defending National Interest.”

Jaishankar had served as the country’s foreign secretary from 2015 to 2018 before taking over as Foreign Minister following the demise of former minister Sushama Swaraj.

In London, Gandhi attacked the BJP government and said Indian democracy is a “global public good” and a central anchor for the planet, and if that cracks, it is going to cause a problem for the planet.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury, Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav and Trinamool Congress’ Mahua Moitra were also present at the event.

Asked about the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Gandhi drew parallels with the Chinese actions in Ladakh. Like Pakistan, the “deep state” is eating India, he alleged.

BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia responded to Rahul Gandhi’s charge. “While it is well known that the Congress leader hates Modi but he should think twice before speaking against India.

“By comparing the situation in Ladakh with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Gandhi insulted the sacrifices of Indian soldiers in Galwan,” Bhatia claimed.