Hubballi: EAM Jaishankar Highlights India’s Achievements and Addresses Global Indices
Hubballi, Karnataka – In a significant event at KLE Technological University on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar unveiled a book encapsulating the accomplishments of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, emphasizing the transformative work done in his constituency.
Minister Jaishankar commended Mr. Joshi for revitalizing the region and turning it around. Applauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary goal to make India a developed country over the next 25 years, he highlighted Dharwad’s role in India’s rapid progress.
Reflecting on the changing landscape, Minister Jaishankar observed that a decade ago, development was merely promised, but now it translates into tangible results. He pointed to significant changes in physical infrastructure, policies, and laws, asserting that India is witnessing progress with 30 km of highway built daily, two metros annually, two new colleges inaugurated daily, and a university established weekly. The minister also noted India’s UPI transactions surpassing the United States’ three-year record within a month.
Addressing the successful fight against COVID-19 under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, Minister Jaishankar contrasted India’s swift recovery with countries still grappling with the pandemic’s aftermath.
On the topic of global indices portraying India negatively, the minister deemed it a political ploy. Responding to a student’s query about India’s lower rankings, he questioned the credibility of such indices, citing instances where neighboring countries received higher rankings despite India’s significant contributions, such as being a food exporter.
Minister Jaishankar dismissed rankings on press freedom, highlighting the apparent inconsistency of Afghanistan ranking higher than India. He emphasized that India’s time would come to write reports, underscoring the political agendas behind these indices.
Addressing concerns about development disparities between mega cities and Tier-2/Tier-3 cities, the minister acknowledged past challenges but highlighted positive changes. He noted that smaller cities are now attracting companies, with investments flowing in due to improved public infrastructure and the availability of skilled human resources.
When questioned about diplomatic approaches, Minister Jaishankar clarified that diplomacy is politics with foreign countries, focusing on building positive relations. He added that defensive strategies could turn offensive if pressured.
Regarding his experience working with Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar described it as tough yet enjoyable. He praised the Prime Minister’s extreme dedication, clear ideas, and prioritization of the country’s interests, citing instances like standing firm against European pressure on crude oil imports from Russia and successfully executing Operation Ganga to bring back stranded students from Ukraine. “Being a foreign minister is good, but being that with Modi is great,” he concluded.
