India cannot allow others to veto its selection: EAM Jaishankar

EAM Jaishankar was awarded the 27th SIES Shri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati National Eminence Award. | Photo credit: X/@DrSJaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday (December 21, 2024) said India cannot allow others to use veto on its choice and will do anything for national interest and global interest without threat of “conformity”.

In a video message for an event in Mumbai, he said that when India is drawn more deeply into the global consciousness, its impact is truly profound.

“In a world grappling with unhealthy habits, stressful lifestyles or recurring weather events, India’s heritage has much to learn. But the world will know only when the countrymen are proud,” he said.

“In the era of globalization, technology and tradition must go hand in hand,” said Mr. Jaishankar.

“India will definitely progress but it must not lose its Indianness. Only then can we truly emerge as a leading power in a multipolar world,” he said.

Shri Jaishankar was awarded the 27th SIES Shri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati National Eminence Award. The awards are given in four areas with emphasis on public leadership, community leadership, human endeavour, science and technology and social leadership – spirituality. The award is named after the 68th seer of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Shri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati.

The foreign minister did not participate in the program but sent his video message.

“Independence should never be confused with neutrality. We will do whatever is right for our national interest and global interest, without fear of conformity. India cannot allow others a veto on our choices,” he said.

He added, “We have been taught for too long to imagine progress and modernity while rejecting our heritage and tradition.”

Perhaps it came from an affinity for imported models, or perhaps it was a discomfort with their own practices. But now the depth of democracy is raising a more authentic voice, the country is rediscovering itself and finding its own personality, said the minister.

Shri Jaishankar said that India is an exceptional nation because it is a civilized state. He said, ‘Such a country has an impact only when it uses its cultural power globally.

“For this, we ourselves, the younger generation, need to be fully aware of the value and importance of our heritage. It can be expressed at various levels, but the most important thing is that it should have an impact at the social level,” he said.

Mr. Jaishankar said that India stands at a critical juncture today. On the one hand, the last decade has shown that it has the capacity, the confidence and, most importantly, the commitment to advance development in a wider area.

It has shown that age-old problems such as poverty, discrimination and lack of opportunity can indeed be addressed. On the global stage, it has established itself as an independent power but committed to global interests, particularly the well-being of the global South, he said.

“At the same time, however, our barriers and limitations for a long time are still in place. There are perspectives and ideologies that are more pessimistic and even self-deprecating,” Mr. Jaishankar added.