Jaishankar rebuts Rahul Gandhi; lists why India's international standing is 'higher' now

Rebuking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his criticism of  Modi government's foreign policy, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar gave a point by point rebuttal on his charges by citing difference between policy of erstwhile UPA government and present dispensation.

Rahul Gandhi on Friday shared his thoughts on border conflict while underlying that India’s vulnerability has allowed China to increase tensions along border. In a video shared on Twitter, former Congress chief said that since 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s "mistakes and lack of discretion has weakened India", thus allowing its enemies to launch attacks.

In a series of tweets, S Jaishankar hit back, 'answering' points raised by Wayanad MP. He said India's major partnerships with likes of United States, Russia, Japan, Europe, etc. are stronger and international standing higher. "India engs China on more equal terms politically," said EAM, in an apparent reference to handling of border tensions and trade.

Jaishankar said India w speaks her mind more openly on contentious issues like China-Pakistan Ecomic Corridor (CPEC) that violates Indian sovereignty, on Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), on maritime disputes in South China Sea, and on United Nations-sanctioned terrorists who are harboured in Pakistan. "Ask media," he suggested Gandhi validate.

EAM said government has addressed 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 jawans," wrote Jaishankar.

He pointed out Rahul Gandhi 'skipping' topic of Pakistan and said Islamabad surely tes difference between Balakot and Uri ( air and surgical strikes against terror launch pads in POK) on one hand and Sharm-el-Sheikh, Havana and 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks on or.

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Response on neighbourhood relations

Rajya Sabha MP also turned to India's neighbourhood and recounted Hambantota Port agreement between Sri Lanka and China that was concluded in 2008 (under UPA). Colombo couldn't pay back debt owed to Beijing and had to lease out strategically located port to China for 99 years. "Ask those who dealt with it," said Jaishankar.

diplomat-turned-politician n listed a series of shortcomings made on front with fellow South Asian neighbours pre-2014, from Maldives to Afghanistan to Bhutan. He highlighted landmark 2015 border agreement with Bangladesh that settled disputes across porous border. 

Rahul Gandhi and his party have been cornering Modi government over its handling of recent border tensions with China in Ladakh, immigrant visa issue with US and rhetoric coming from Nepal over its incorporating of Indian territories in its new political map. BJP has been steady to hit back, although Jaishankar's response can be gauged as being perhaps loudest yet from establishment.

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