Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar on Monday dismissed reports that India is facing democratic backsliding at the hands of the Narendra Modi government, saying that the country does not need approval or tedious moral lectures from a “set of self-appointed custodians of the world”.
The Bharatiya Janata Party leader’s remarks came amid concerns raised by international organisations about the steady subversion of democracy and erosion of civil rights in India under Modi’s regime.
“You use the dichotomy of democracy and autocracy…You want the truthful answer, it is hypocrisy,” Jaishankar said when asked to comment at the India Today conclave on what effect the reports might have on India’s image internationally.
He added: “Because you have a set of self-appointed custodians of the world, who find it very difficult to stomach that somebody in India is not looking for their approval, is not willing to play the game they want to be played…so they…