NB In List | Jaishankar's savage replies to foreign reporters on Canada, Russian Oil, Pak, & more

Here are a few other instances when the Indian diplomat-turned-minister went Dr S Jaishankar on the offensive against foreign journalists on a variety of issues, ranging from India"s import of Russian oil, to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

NewsBharati 29-Sep-2023 10:35:19 AM

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External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar mince no words when it comes to giving it back to the reporters who attempt to create controversies. Similarly, his confrontational side was seen once again during his recent trip to the United States of America.

At an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Jaishankar took on few foreign reporters who raised questions regarding the ongoing diplomatic tiff between Delhi and Ottawa, and also Western institutions' claims that democracy is under threat in India.

Here are few other instances when the Indian diplomat-turned-minister went on the offensive against foreign journalists on a variety of issues, ranging from India's import of Russian oil, to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

1. "Try to be good a neighbour"

During a media interaction at the UN, he was responding to a query from a Pakistani reporter who had charged India with supporting terrorism. A Pakistani journalist asked, “ How long the South Asia is going to see this terrorism disseminating from New Delhi, Kabul and, you know, Pakistan?"

#WATCH |...They're ministers in Pakistan who can tell how long Pakistan intends to practice terrorism. World isn't stupid, it increasingly calls out countries, orgs indulging in terrorism...my advice is to clean up your act & try to be good neighbour:EAM S Jaishankar at New York pic.twitter.com/BJYmNcb2Oj
— ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2022

“You’re asking the wrong minister when you say ‘how long will we do this’," said Jaishankar. It is the Pakistani ministers who will be able to clarify how long Pakistan plans to practise terrorism, he added. "The world increasingly calls out countries, organisations indulging in terrorism...my advice is to clean up your act and try to be good a neighbour," the MEA said.

2. "I really don’t see the basis for your question"

EU foreign and security policy chief Josep Borrell said that Brussels is aware Indian refiners are buying large volumes of Russian crude oil and processing it into fuels for sale in Europe. For the first time since India significantly ramped up purchases of discounted Russian oil, Borrell also said the EU should act to stop this practice.

Asked about Borrell’s remarks by a reporter, Jaishankar replied, "I really don’t see the basis for your question because my understanding of the [European] Council regulations is that if Russian crude is substantially transformed in a third country, then it’s not treated as Russian any more."

He added, “I would urge you to look at Council regulation 833/2014.”

3. "Our total purchases for the month will be less than what Europe does in an afternoon"

Jaishankar gave a befitting reply to a reporter, who had tried to raise the issue of Indian oil purchases from Russia during the 4th edition of the India-US 2+2 dialogue. “I noticed you referred to oil purchases. If you are looking at energy purchases from Russia, I would suggest that your attention should be focused on Europe,” he emphasised.

He pointed out, “We do buy some energy, which is necessary for our energy security. But I suspect looking at the figures. Our total purchases for the month will be less than what Europe does in an afternoon. So, you might want to think about it.”

4. "Don't know why it's hard to understand"

When the journalist asked Jaishankar about reports that in recent times downgraded India's democracy scores, the minister that said the reports are biased and his response has been very clear.

The journalist referred to Jaishankar's earlier response to the question of another journalist and said that his answer did not make it clear whether Jaishankar is concerned that these reports will come in the way of India in the global platform. "Are you concerned that perceived democratic backslide in India is going to undermine the efforts to become a rising power in the world?" the journalist said.

"I think it answers the questions if you are objective enough to understand it. I think It says very clearly that people who are writing these reports have a strong bias, often they distort facts. many of these reports are riddled with inaccuracies. So I put it to you there is an ideological agenda. I don't know why that's hard to understand," Jaishankar said.

5. 'Not part of Five Eyes...asking wrong person'

Replying to the question of a journalist at the Council of Foreign Relations in the US who asked Jaishankar his reaction to the claim that intelligence was shared among the Five Eyes and reports that the FBI has told US Sikh leaders that there are threats, Jaishankar said, "I am not part of the Five Eyes. I am not certainly part of the FBI. So you are asking the wrong person."

#WATCH | New York: On India-Canada row, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "I'm not part of The Five Eyes, I'm certainly not part of the FBI. So I think you're asking the wrong person." pic.twitter.com/2xogAu0aDc
— ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2023