'You Think Timing Is Accidental?' Jaishankar Calls BBC Series On Modi 'Politics By Another Means'

Jaishankar described the uproar as "politics by another means," adding, "Sometimes politics in India does not even begin inside its borders, it comes from beyond."

EAM S Jaishankar.

Source : ANI File Photo

"Actual politics" is being played "ostensibly as media" by those who lack the "courage to enter the political arena," said Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, referring to the contentious BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, news agency ANI reported.

In an interview with ANI, Jaishankar described the uproar as "politics by another means," adding, "Sometimes politics in India does not even begin inside its borders, it comes from beyond."

Speaking about the BBC Documentary, Jaishankar stated: "We are not debating just a documentary or a speech that somebody gave in a European city or a newspaper edits somewhere -- we are debating, actually politics, which is being conducted ostensibly as media -- there is a phrase 'war by other means' this is politics by another means -- I mean you will do a hatchet job, you want to do a hatchet job and say this is just another quest for truth which we decided after 20 years to put at this time."

The documentary's release a year before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was questioned by the external affairs minister. "I mean, come on, you think timing is accidental! Let me tell you one thing - I don't know if the election season has started in India, Delhi or not, but, for sure it has started in London, New York," he informed ANI in an interview.

The BBC produced a documentary series named "India: The Modi Question" in January, which highlights the Gujarat riots of 2002. The film sparked outrage for hinting to PM Modi's participation in the riots while ignoring the Supreme Court's clear ruling in his favour.

Asked about some western media's bias against PM Modi, EAM Jaishankar stated: "I mean, do you doubt it? Look who the cheerleaders are. What is happening is, just like I told you -- this drip, drip, drip -- how do you shape a very extremist image of India, of the government, of the BJP, of the Prime Minister. I mean, this has been going on for a decade."

According to the Minister, the goal of spreading such tales outside of India is to further the anti-India agenda.

"Let's not have illusions about it..., there is an echo chamber, it will be picked outside and then they will say it is being said outside, it must be true. Then you will say it inside. There is a ding-dong going on, look this is a globalized world, people take that politics abroad," said the Minister.

"Why suddenly there is a surge of reports and attention and views? I mean, were some of these things not happening earlier. Many things happened in Delhi in 1984, why don't we see a documentary on that? If that was your concern, you suddenly feel one day, "I am very humanistic, I must get justice for people who have been wronged," he further asked. 

 

However, he cautioned against falling for such schemes and urged the propagandist to enter politics. "This is politics at play by people who do not have the courage to come into the political field. They want to have that teflon cover saying that I am an NGO, media organisation etc. They are playing politics," he stated. 

 

The Minister has praised India's democracy as a model for the rest of the world to imitate in his numerous encounters on several forums overseas. The Minister said in an interview with ANI that the public's decision will dispel all myths.

 

"Among other things in a democracy - don't you trust the ballot box, people's verdict to be the final opinion? I do. I know there are certain people who believe that their view supersedes elections. Look, I like you, you win election--great democracy. I don't like you win election. What are you -- 'electoral autocracy'. That's reserved for people whom you don't like to win elections. This is politics," he stated.

 

(With Inputs From ANI)