'We Need Not Be So Thin-Skinned': Tharoor Advises Jaishankar To 'Cool A Little Bit'. WATCH

"I will strongly urge my friend Jai to cool a little bit," Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said.

Congress Leader Shashi Tharoor.

Source : PTI File Photo

Shashi Tharoor, a Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP, advised Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to "cool a little bit" after the latter's statement regarding the West's "bad habit" of remarking on other countries, news agency ANI reported.

"I have known him for a long time and consider him as a friend but on this issue I think we need not be so thin-skinned, I think it's very important that as a government we take something in stride. If we react to every comment, we are doing ourselves a disservice. I will strongly urge my friend Jai to cool a little bit," Tharoor was quoted by ANI in its report.

#WATCH | We need not be so thin-skinned, I think it's very important that as govt we take something in stride. If we react to every comment, we are doing ourselves a disservice. I will strongly urge EAM Jaishankar to cool a little bit: Shashi Tharoor on EAM's “West has a bad… pic.twitter.com/2DtYLWspMO

— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2023

At a discussion in Bengaluru on Sunday, the foreign minister stated that "the West thinks it has a God-given right to comment on internal matters of other countries."

Jaishankar delivered the statements above during a 'Meet and Greet' encounter with around 500 young voters, joggers, and tourists at Cubbon Park on Sunday morning, organised by Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya and Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan.

The Foreign Minister was replying to a query on statements made by Germany and the United States regarding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as a Member of Parliament.

"I will give you the truthful answer (on why we see West commenting on India). There are two reasons. It is because the West has a bad habit of commenting on others. They somehow think it is some kind of God-given right. They will have to learn only by experience that if they keep doing this, other people will also start commenting and they will not like it when it happens. And I see that happening," Jaishankar was quoted by ANI in its report. 

He added: "The second part of the truth - In our arguments, you are inviting the people to comment on you. Then more and more people are tempted to comment. We also need to stop giving generous invitations to the world saying there are problems in India, and (urging) America and the world (by saying), why are you standing by doing nothing? So if somebody from here goes and says why are you standing by and saying nothing, then obviously they are going to comment. Part of the problem is them, and part of the problem is us. And I think both need fixing."