US Senator says Democracy doesn't put food on table, EAM S Jaishankar responds
Munich, Feb 15 (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said since India is a democratic society, it is able to give nutrition support and food to 800 million people.
Speaking on Friday at a panel discussion titled ‘Live to Vote Another Day: Fortifying Democratic Resilience’ at the Munich Security Conference, Jaishankar made these remarks as a counter to US Senator Elissa Slotkin's remark that democracy “doesn't put food on the table.”
“Senator, you said that democracy doesn't put food on your table. Actually … in my part of the world, it (democracy) does. Today, since we are a democratic society, we give nutrition support, and food to 800 million people,” Jaishankar said.
“That is a matter of how healthy they are and how full their stomachs are. So, the point I want to make is that different parts of the world are going through different conversations. Please do not assume that this is a kind of universal phenomenon, it is not,” he said.
“There are parts where it is working well. Maybe there are parts where it's not and the parts which are not. I think people need to have honest conversations about why it's not,” the External Affairs Minister said.
“But I would argue that to an extent, as someone dispassionately viewing it, a lot of it is an accumulated problem of the model of globalisation that we have followed for the last 25-30 years. I think a lot of chickens have come home to roost. So, yes there are issues, but from our point of view, let's not make that universal,” the External Affairs Minister added.
“Started the #MSC2025 with a panel on ‘Live to Vote Another Day: Fortifying Democratic Resilience’. Joined PM @jonasgahrstore, @ElissaSlotkin and @trzaskowski_.
Highlighted India as a democracy that delivers. Differed with the prevailing political pessimism. Spoke my mind on foreign interference,” the minister posted on X.
Apart from Jaishankar, the panel comprised Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, US Senator Slotkin and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowsk.
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Shirtless protest: Court reserves order on Delhi Police plea for custody of arrested IYC workers
New Delhi (PTI): A Delhi court on Saturday reserved its order on police's plea seeking five-day custody of the four Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers, who were arrested for protesting at the AI Impact Summit venue a day ago.
The arrested IYC workers were produced before Judicial Magistrate Ravi, who reserved the order after completion of arguments.
The arrested protesters were Krishna Hari, national secretary of Youth Congress from Bihar; Kundan Yadav, IYC state secretary, Bihar; Ajay Kumar, IYC state president, Uttar Pradesh; and Narasimha Yadav from Telangana.
Delhi Police sought five-day custody of the arrested protesters, arguing that they raised anti-national slogans and wore T-shirts with objectionable images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The counsel for the accused argued that they were associated with a political party, and had exercised their democratic right to peaceful protest at Bharat Mandapam.
He said there was no footage proving that they attacked police officers, nor any evidence that an anti-national speech was made.
The court is expected to pass its order shortly.
