“Don’t Worry About It”: S Jaishankar Responds To UN’s Free And Fair Election Remark (image-instagram/DrSJaishankar)
Replying to a United Nations official’s recent remark regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in India, external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that he does not need the global body to tell the election in the country should be “free and fair”.
Jaishankar came in response to the query regarding the statement by a spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General that they “hope” in India, people’s political and civil rights are protected and everyone can vote in a “free and fair” atmosphere.
Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric was asked about the “political unrest” in India in connection with the recent arrest of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and the sudden freezing of the Congress party’s bank accounts.
“What we very much hope that in India, as in any country that is having elections, that everyone”s rights are protected, including political and civil rights, and everyone is able to vote in an atmosphere that is free and fair,” Mr Dujarric had said.
The ex-foreign secretary made this remark while speaking to the media in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram, where he was campaigning for his ministerial colleague Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the BJP’s candidate from the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency.
“I don”t need the United Nations to tell me our elections should be free and fair. I have the people of India. The people of India will ensure that elections are free and fair. So, don”t worry about it,” the minister told reporters.
Earlier, Jaishankar has also warned countries to be careful while commenting on India’s internal affairs or else will get a ‘very strong reply’ from India.
While responding to the comments passed by US and German envoys on the arrest of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest, the foreign ministry has stated that they had made it clear that it objected to such statements. The ministry further added that certain etiquettes, conventions, and practices must be followed in international relations.
