What kind of INDIA are you…if you don’t want to listen to India’s national interests: Jaishankar

Chaos ensued as members in the Treasury benches chanted “Modi, Modi”, while those in Opposition raised “India, India” slogans during his statement in the Upper House of the Parliament.

“We felt that in the past few months, there have been enormous achievements… We are putting really big energy into a semiconductor mission because that will make India strong for the future,” EAM S Jaishankar tells media outside Parliament.

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— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) July 27, 2023

“Our effort was today to say how the country has progressed and our foreign policy is delivering for the people of India, for the national good of India. So we thought at least on this issue the Opposition will put its political differences aside, would listen to it with an open mind and will put national interest first,” Jaishankar told reporters outside the Parliament.

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He said that if a foreign minister is not allowed to make a statement in the House, then “it’s a sorry state of affairs”. “It’s unfortunate how strongly and how wrongly partisan politics is pursued.”

“On certain issues people should put politics aside, and think about the country. They should be prepared to listen to where we have made progress. This is good for the country. It’s not just an achievement of a government, but of the country,” Jaishankar added.

“On certain issues people should put politics aside, and think about the country…,” Jaishankar said.

Sloganeering continued in the Rajya Sabha while the MEA was giving a statement over India’s foreign policy

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— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) July 27, 2023

“Different political parties… they may disagree on other things. This (foreign policy) is one area where by and large there has been national consensus, national unity. There should be appreciation. The Prime Minister today is honoured across the world… He’s the first Indian PM to get France’s highest award, or of Papua New Guinea or Fiji. He is the only Indian PM who has addressed the (United States) Congress twice,” he said.

The Minister also spoke about some of the developments he had mentioned in his statement such as securing the jet engine tech transfer from GE Aerospace or commitment of investment by US companies towards semi-conductors in India.

The proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 12 pm shortly after Jaishankar’s statement, amid sloganeering by the Opposition, news agency PTI reported.

The Monsoon Session of Parliament has been marred with disruptions and stalled proceedings since it began on July 20, with the Opposition demanding a statement from the Prime Minister over the violence in Manipur.