External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has recently spoken on various aspects of India's foreign policy and its challenges. At a book launch event in Delhi, Jaishankar emphasized the need for introspection on India's foreign policy decisions post-independence. He also discussed the ongoing Free Trade Agreements (FTA) negotiations with significant partners and questioned the narrative that India should quickly sign up with the UK without considering why other potential agreements are not similarly scrutinized. Highlighting the role of narratives in international relations, Jaishankar pointed out the economic dominance of certain countries in institutions like the UN Security Council and how they shape narratives to maintain their lead. In a separate context, a Hindu temple in Newark, California, was defaced with anti-India and pro-Khalistan graffiti. The Newark Police are investigating the incident, which has been condemned by the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Jaishankar has seen the reports and stated that extremists and separatists should not be given space, and an inquiry is underway. The defacement has been labeled as a hate crime, and the incident has hurt the sentiments of the Indian community. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller acknowledged Jaishankar's productive relationship with Secretary Antony Blinken. Dr Sant Vallabh Das Swami of Swami Narayan temple in Gujarat called the defacement an attack on India and its culture, while VHP leader Vinod Bansal described the incident as unfortunate and called for strict action against the perpetrators.
#WATCH | Delhi: On Hindu Temple defaced with anti-India and pro-Khalistan graffiti in the United States, VHP leader Vinod Bansal says, "It is unfortunate that in a country like America, such incidents are happening. The government should take strict action against those who are… https://t.co/kCLJRx1LhW
"I have seen it...extremists, separatists should not be given space": Jaishankar after Hindu temple defaced in US Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/s2Tk72ct2W #SJaishankar #SwaminarayanTemple #California #Newark #America #CounterTerrorism https://t.co/XHLiwg5mQK
#WATCH | On Swami Narayan temple in Newark, US defaced with pro-Khalistani slogans, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "I have seen it. Extremists, separatists and such forces should not be given space. Our Consulate there complained to the government and the police and an inquiry is… https://t.co/dfEzsfeeT8
#WATCH | On terrorism, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "...Terrorism started at the moment of our independence when so-called raiders came from across Pakistan...What has changed in this country today, I think the Mumbai 26/11, to me, was the tipping point. A lot of people were very… https://t.co/EWkMjVokrO
#WATCH On Swami Narayan temple in Newark, US defaced with pro-Khalistani slogans, Dr Sant Vallabh Das Swami of Swami Narayan temple, Vadtal in Gujarat says, "This is an attack on India and our culture. I request Govt of India and the US govt that no one should have this type of… https://t.co/Hq6VnC0IcY
#WATCH | EAM Dr S Jaishankar speaks at the 3rd convocation of Rashtriya Raksha University in Lavad, Gandhinagar "...It has been an achievement of Indian diplomacy that we have been successful in forging relationships with multiple often competing powers..." https://t.co/sbPAk8GJbu
Hindu temple wall defaced with anti-India graffiti in US https://t.co/RRko2nESFW
"Incident hurt sentiments of Indian community": Consulate in San Francisco condemns defacement of Hindu temple in Newark Read @ANI Story |https://t.co/qFfIvkEc6t #SwaminarayanTemple #California #Newark #America #India https://t.co/Wk3p9XqWpx
US: Hindu temple wall defaced by anti-India graffiti, cops treating it as 'hate crime' Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/dhSyolGXuq #SwaminarayanTemple #California #Newark #America https://t.co/H4vKJuXtES
A Hindu temple has been vandalised with anti-India and pro-Khalistan graffiti on its exterior walls in Newark, California, United States. Newark Police has assured a thorough investigation into the incident. https://t.co/ruhEY6nkv1
A Hindu temple has been vandalised with anti-India graffiti on its exterior walls in Newark, California, United States. Newark Police has assured a thorough investigation into the incident. https://t.co/o1okquinMO
#Breaking: Swaminarayan Mandir Vasana Sanstha in Newark, California was defaced with pro-#Khalistan slogans. @NewarkCA_Police and @CivilRights have been informed and full investigation will follow. We are insisting that this should be investigated as a hate crime. https://t.co/QHeEVWrkDj
#WATCH | US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller says, "I would say that the secretary has a close productive working relationship with his, counterpart (EAM Dr S Jaishankar). We have welcomed him here in the past couple of months. And of course, the secretary (Antony… https://t.co/S975je2nk7
#WATCH | On the power of narrative, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "...We see this most startling in the UN Security Council. Those who have acquired dominance, especially economic dominance through the process of negotiation, through shaping of narratives, create systems which would… https://t.co/cdKPnr1RYQ
#WATCH | EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "...At the end of the day, it is all about freezing leads, which countries have acquired. We see this most startling in the UN Security Council. Those who have acquired dominance, especially economic dominance through the process of negotiation,… https://t.co/GX1iLiTUio
#WATCH | EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "...Because the power of narrative is so great, American domestic politics or Western domestic, European domestic politics is often made to appear very reasonable. You know, they can't do this because they have a big domestic lobby. What about… https://t.co/PQbDXt9z9A
#WATCH | On Free Trade Agreements (FTA), EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "We are right now, in the middle of some fairly serious negotiations with some fairly serious partners... I hear this naysayer narrative coming back, why isn't India quickly signing up with the UK? Nobody says why… https://t.co/jdYurHzb9R
#WATCH | At a book launch event in Delhi, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "I think today it is very important for us, after 75 years of independence, to introspect more about foreign policy. Because, often we tend to think that the decisions which were taken were the only decisions… https://t.co/bDEuVkh5H3