NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, known for his sharp responses, once again displayed his sharp humour during a recent interaction.
A reporter presented him with a choice, saying, “I’ll give you two options. You have to choose either of them. And you have to choose. There are no prizes for winning. So, the first question is: one person you wish to have dinner with—Kim Jong Un or George Soros?”
Jaishankar responded with a light-hearted quip: “I think this is Navratri, and I’m fasting.”
Kim Jong Un या George Soros के साथ डिनर? विदेश मंत्री Jaishankar ने Navratri में व्रत का विकल्प चुना
This exchange mirrors Jaishankar’s past interactions, where he masterfully handled challenging questions.In one instance, when asked if the India-US relationship was “volatile at best and bullying at worst,” Jaishankar replied with humour, “So, you’re accusing me of bullying the US?” before offering a thoughtful explanation of the evolving relationship between the two nations, which drew applause from the audience.
In another case, during a press briefing, a BBC reporter expressed concern over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warm interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Jaishankar addressed the criticism calmly, highlighting cultural differences, saying, “In our part of the world, when people meet, they embrace. It may not be part of your culture, but I assure you it’s part of ours.”
In 2023, The EAM had Jaishankar responded sharply to George Soros, who questioned India’s democracy and Prime Minister Modi‘s leadership. Jaishankar noted, “There are still people who believe their views must override everything else.”. He dismissed Soros’s previous claims of citizenship stripping as “absurd” and labelled his comments as “scaremongering” that harms societal fabric. Jaishankar further described Soros as a “dangerous” outsider, likening his interference in Indian politics to colonialism.
Jaishankar is set to visit Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, which is scheduled for October 15 and 16.