“Neo-Convert”: A Jaishankar Vs Jairam Ramesh On Indian Foreign Policy
In response to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar”s recent assertion aligning the foreign policy of the Narendra Modi government with the “realism of Sardar Patel over the idealism associated with Nehru”, Congress General Secretary in charge of communication, Jairam Ramesh, offered a critical perspective.
Ramesh remarked, “Whenever I delve into the statements made by the erudite and dapper External Affairs Minister on Nehru, I can”t help but recall the numerous parikramas he would make around Nehruvians for his plum postings.”
He suggested that Jaishankar”s critique of Nehru could be a strategic move to enhance his rapport with the Prime Minister, accusing him of compromising intellectual honesty and objectivity in the process, and he said: “I can understand that he is a neo-convert who has to indulge in Nehru-bashing to ingratiate himself even more with the Prime Minister. But in doing so, he has lost all intellectual honesty and objectivity.”
Ramesh added, “He was expected to bend, but now he seems to be crawling. People with integrity are cringing. It”s very sad.”
Earlier, highlighting a stark divergence in perspectives, Jaishankar proposed that India”s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, inclined toward an idealistic friendship with China, whereas the then Home Minister, Sardar Patel, championed a realist approach, taking into account India”s interests and global dynamics.
“I argue for dealing with China from a basis of realism — that strain of realism, which I feel — strains all the way from Sardar Patel to Narendra Modi — that is the strain of realism which I feel should allow us to have a certain approach.
“It takes two hands to clap. I pose the issue in this manner if you look at the last 75 plus years of our foreign policy, they have a strain of realism about China and have a strain of idealism, romanticism, non-realism. It begins right from Day one, there is a sharp difference of opinion — how to respond to China between Nehru and Sardar Patel,” Jaishankar has said in an interview with ANI.
