Jaishankar’s swipe at Western media: ‘Countries that go to court after polls…’

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday slammed the western media for their ‘negative coverage’ of Indian elections and told them not to give ‘gyan’ to India (lecture India) on how to conduct polls.

“They would reputationally damage you, somebody will bring out an index and put you down in that. Countries which have to go to court to decide the result of their election are giving us gyan about how to conduct the election,” Jaishankar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Jaishankar also brushed aside the criticism by certain western media platforms that raised questions about the Lok Sabha elections 2024, calling it a ‘mind game’ going on in the world at present.

“They western countries do want to influence us because many of these countries feel that these countries have influenced this world for the last 70–80 years. Western countries feel that they have influenced this world for the last 200 years. How do you expect for someone, who has been in that position to give up those old habits so easily”, Jaishankar said on Tuesday while speaking at the launch of the Bangla edition of his book ‘Why Bharat Matters’ in Kolkata.

S Jaishankar went on to add that the western countries want a certain ‘class of people’ at the helm of affairs in India and feel ‘disturbed’ when the people of the country think differently.

“Why are these people so negative on India?” Jaishankar rued.

He added that it was actually because they (western countries) are getting to see an India which is not in compliance with their image of how India should be.

“Western media, in some cases, have openly endorsed candidates and political parties; they don’t hide their preference. They are very smart,” the External Affairs Minister said.

Acknowledging the voter turnout during the first four phases of polls, Jaishankar said “Even in this election, I am looking at the commentary. Even in this country, even in the hottest summer, look at the percentage of people who come to vote.”

India is voting for the Lok Sabha elections from April 19 to June 1, 2024. So far, four of the seven phases of the general election have been completed, with the remaining three to be held on May 20, 25 and June 1, respectively.

The votes will be counted on June 4.