News Brief
'Bharat Can Never Permit Others To Have A Veto On Its Choices': Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
India will never allow external forces to dictate its decisions and will do whatever is right in the national interest and for the global good without being intimidated, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday (21 December).
Addressing an event in Mumbai through a video message, Jaishankar said that in an age of globalisation, technology and tradition must march together, said Jaishankar.
“Bharat will inevitably progress but it must do so without losing its Bharatiyata. Only then can we truly emerge as a leading power in a multi-polar world,” he said, news agency PTI reported.
Jaishankar was conferred the 27th SIES Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati National Eminence Award.
The awards are given in four fields – Public Leadership, Community Leadership, Human endeavour, Science and Technology and Social Leadership – with primacy on spiritualism.
Named after the 68th Seer of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi, the awards celebrate outstanding contributions across diverse fields.
“Independence should never be confused with neutrality. We will do whatever is right in our national interest and for global good without being intimidated to conform. Bharat can never permit others to have a veto on its choices,” he said.
“For too long we were schooled to visualise progress and modernity as a rejection of our heritage and traditions,” Jaishankar said.
He noted that India, bolstered by democratic progress, is rediscovering itself and finding again its own persona.
Jaishankar said India is an exceptional nation because it is a civilisation state.
Such a country will only exercise influence when it fully leverages its cultural strengths in the global arena, he said.
“To that it is essential that we ourselves, the younger generation, are fully aware of the value and significance of our heritage. This can be articulated at various levels, but most importantly it should have an impact at the societal level,” he said.
India stands at a critical juncture, Jaishankar observed, pointing to the past decade's display of its capabilities, confidence, and commitment to advance development across broad fronts.
It has shown that the age-old problems of poverty, discrimination and lack of opportunities can be indeed addressed. On the global stage, it has established itself as an independent power but one committed to global good, especially the well-being of the global south, he said.
“At the same time, however, the constraints and limitations that have long been our bane still remain in place. There are viewpoints and ideologies which are more pessimistic and even denigrating of ourselves,” added Jaishankar.
