Page 8 - The Indian EYE 050324

NATION MAY 03, 2024 | The Indian Eye 8

Protesters at Columbia University, where demonstrations ignited last week, demand the EAM spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal
severance of ties with Israeli academic institutions (Agency photo) (Agency photo)

development, External Affairs Min- He added that these are games unfair, BJP thinks it’s going to win Summit, Jaishankar said that during
ister S Jaishankar slammed Western that are being played with us. “These very big,” he said, adding that, in a the presidency, several countries
media, emphasising that they criticise are politics. These are our domestic kind of way, today, we are at a very wanted to connect to India. “During
our democracy because they think politics which is going global, global important inflexion point. our G20 presidency, a number of
they are also political players in our politics which feels they must now in- Jaishankar said that the deci- countries, but particularly this was an
election and not because they lack trude in India. How can these chaps sions, the government will be making, initiative called IMEC through Saudi
information. Addressing a forum for decide who should be ruling them are not just for the next five years, Arabia, they wanted to connect India
nationalist thinkers in Hyderabad on without consulting us?” he said. and will give our nation, our society, to Europe. Russia and Iran also want
Tuesday, EAM Jaishankar said, “I get Moreover, Jaishankar stressed and our coming generations a very a connectivity passage to Europe. In
a lot of these noises from the Western that “They (West) actually think they big vote of confidence. the east, countries like Vietnam, and
press and if they criticize our democra- are part of our electorate”, adding, “I “It is the guarantee, the guaran- Cambodia, want a passage through
cy, it’s not because they lack informa- think it’s time today that we disabuse tee is an expression of confidence. It Myanmar to India,” he said.
tion. It is because they think they are them and the best way that we do is an expression of confidence based Lauding India’s prominence on
also political players in our election.” that, is by confidence.” on what we have delivered for the last the global stage, Jaishankar said that
Further, Jaishankar said that in EAM emphasised the need to ten years,” he added. there is a lot of interest in somehow
an article by the Western media, they stand up to these kinds of attacks and He highlighted how India has accessing India, connecting to India
stated that in such a heatwave in India, criticisms and rankings and reports been regarded across the world in and working with India
why are they holding elections? “Now because they will question everything. the last ten years, how the country is The fact is, when the G20 met,
I read that article and I wanted to say “They will question your election sys- today preparing for the next 25 years there was a lot of respect in the rest
listen, in that heat my lowest turn- tem, your EVM, your election com- is the mindset with which we need to of the world for PM Modi personal-
out is higher than your highest turn- mission, even the weather,” he said. approach the world. ly and for Modi’s Bharat, Jaishankar
out in the best run,” Jaishankar said. “And one complaint is...BJP is so Moreover, recalling the G20 stressed.

“India can speak to its own visa policy”: US on Australian journalist’s claims

OUR BUREAU Avani Dias, an Australian journalist claimed that she was not allowed
to cover the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and was compelled to leave the country,
Washington, DC
however, the sources highlighted that her claims are “not correct, mis-
he US on Thursday rebuked a Pakistani reporter’s questions on al- leading and mischievous.”
legations of an Australian journalist’s claims not allowed to cover However, sources said that Avani Dias, South Asia Correspondent
TIndian general elections and said that the country determines which of Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) was also found to have
non-citizens it allows to enter, either as short-term travellers or interna- violated visa rules while undertaking her professional pursuits while “un-
tional journalists. dertaking her professional pursuits.”
Responding to a question by a Pakistani reporter on allegations of Meanwhile, at her request, Dias was assured that her visa would be
denial of visa renewal to Australian journalist, Avani Dias, US State De- extended for the coverage of the general elections.
partment Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said, “The Gov- Moreover, the sources emphasised that Avani’s claims about not being
ernment of India can speak to its own visa policy. That’s not something permitted to cover elections are also factually incorrect, adding that covering
I’m going to opine on from here.” election activities outside of booths is permitted to all visa-holder journalists.
Patel further emphasised the role of the free press in the fabric of During the press briefing, Patel also denied making any remark on
democracy. the internal investigation report by the Indian Government on the alleged
“Broadly, we have been clear with countries around the world about assassination plot of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
the integral role that a free press plays in the fabric of democracy. That’s He said, “I’m not aware of the report that you’re referencing. This is
why we come up here and take questions regularly. But I will let the offi- ultimately a Department of Justice matter and I will defer to them and let
cials in India speak,” he said. them speak to this.”

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