No response from India to 26/11 terror attacks; it won't be the case anymore: S Jaishankar
Mumbai, Oct 27: In a veiled attack on the erstwhile UPA government, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said there was no response from India to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, asserting this would not be the case if such an incident happened again.
Reflecting on the terror attack, Jaishankar said double standards on terrorism are not acceptable and India will "act where it has to act" to expose terrorism.
Jaishankar fielded questions on issues ranging from terrorism to the India-China stand-off and from investment to politics at a press conference held in Mumbai.
Without naming China, the EAM said the disengagement of troops at Depsang and Demchok in Ladakh is the first step, and it is expected that India will return to the 2020 patrolling status.
He, however, stressed the next step of de-escalation won't be taken until India is assured of reciprocity from the other side as well, obviously referring to China.
Speaking on India's response to terrorism and what changed after 2014, the EAM said India is the leader in fighting terrorism.
“We should not have a repeat of what happened in Mumbai. That there was a terror attack and there was no response,” Jaishankar said.
Mumbai is a symbol of counter-terrorism for India and the world, he said.
"There are different views from political parties. When this city (Mumbai) was attacked, nothing was done," he added.
He said when we talk of zero tolerance against terror, it is clear that when somebody does something, there will be a response.
"We also have to expose. It is not acceptable that you are doing business during daytime and indulging in terror during the night and I have to pretend that everything is okay," he added.
When India was a member of the UN Security Council and chairing the counter-terrorism committee, the counter-terrorism panel's meeting was held in the same hotel that was hit by the terror attack, he said.
Speaking on Manipur strife, Jaishankar said there are complex reasons for what is happening in the northeastern state, noting that some factors are historical and the rest concern the border situation.
"Claims like the rest of the world would have a problem with India because of Manipur are a political agenda and anti-national agenda. It is not right to damage India's image in the name of Manipur," the EAM said.
Speaking on Bangladeshi infiltrators, Jaishankar said the last decade saw a transformation in the border fencing which has been strengthened.
"The ease (with which illegal migrants used to enter India) and the number of infiltration has reduced. The Modi government is absolutely clear on what needs to be done to secure borders.
Not just Bangladesh, Myanmar is also be taken care of. We reviewed the open border policy. Border security is being tightened, the EAM said.
He said the election in Jammu and Kashmir which saw more than 60 per cent voter turnout is a big statement about democracy.
"India won on that day. It reflects people's faith in the scrapping of Article 370 and the hold of separatist politics was broken," he said, underlining the need for deeper integration of Kashmir with India to counter the cross-border terrorism support.
"The integration was, however, opposed due to political reasons," he claimed.
Recounting his recent visit to Pakistan for an SCO conclave, Jaishankar said he wanted to make it clear that he was not putting the terrorism issue on the side.
Getting into election mode, Jaishankar said Maharashtra needs a government that is on the same page as the Centre, refuting allegations on the flight of investments from Maharashtra to Gujarat.
He said Maharashtra is a leading state in industry technology and infrastructure, and "Viksit Maharashtra is important for achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat".
The western state is going to polls on November 20.
Targeting the Opposition, Jaishankar said India is the place where the world is interested in investing.
"To implement the Centre's decisions on the ground you need a government which is on the same page as the Central government, trusted by the people of the country and the world," Jaishankar added.
He said the state government should have a track record of delivering on development. "Hence we want to ensure that the double-engine growth seen elsewhere is also seen in Maharashtra," he added.
Jaishankar said the Centre was taking steps to make talent employable in the global workplace.
"In our third term, we strongly focused on employment, economy, and development. Security is also an essential prerequisite for development and we are working on it," he said.
PM Modi is working to improve the image of brand India on the international stage but when it comes to investments state governments have to work on it, he said.
Jaishankar said not all projects have come to the BJP-ruled states in the last 10 years. "You can't blame the Centre but also have to check your own merit," he said, targeting the opposition MVA.
He said Viksit Maharashtra is important to achieve 'Viksit Bharat' goal.
"State governments need to be positive, genuine, and effective partners in development. The more the state government is aligned with the Centre, the more will be the investor confidence," the BJP MP added.
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Just want to enjoy whatever last few years of cricket I'm able to play: MS Dhoni
New Delhi, Oct 27: Former India and Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni has hinted at a potential return for IPL 2025, saying he wants to enjoy "whatever last few years of cricket" he can play, amid speculation regarding his availability for the upcoming season.
There has been speculation about Dhoni's future since he handed over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad in the last season and began batting lower in the order.
Franchises must submit their retained player lists by October 31 ahead of the mega auction. Dhoni could be retained by CSK as an uncapped player this year due to the reintroduction of a rule allowing players retired from international cricket for five years to be classified as uncapped.
"I just want to enjoy whatever last few years of cricket I'm able to play," a report in ESPNcricinfo quoted Dhoni as saying on Sunday at a promotional event held in Goa a couple of days ago.
"Like how during our childhood we used to go out and play at 4[pm], just enjoying the game. But when you play professional sport it becomes difficult to enjoy the game just like a game. So what I want to do is, there are emotions and commitments, but I want to enjoy the game for the next few years."
Last week, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan had also said that he is hopeful of Dhoni being part of the upcoming season.
Dhoni, who underwent left knee surgery in 2023, batted lower down the order during the 2024 IPL edition. The former India skipper explained that this decision was primarily to provide game-time to aspiring Indian players ahead of the T20 World Cup.
"My thinking was simple, if others are doing their job well why do I need to come up the order," Dhoni said.
"If you're talking about last year (season) specifically, the T20 World Cup squad was going to be announced soon. So we have to give people who are fighting for a spot a chance.
"In our team (CSK) we had a few, (Ravindra) Jadeja was there, Shivam Dube was there so you give them an opportunity to prove themselves to get into the Indian team. There was nothing in it for me, no selection and other things. So I'm good behind [playing down the order] and my team was happy with what I was doing."
"Love how teams are playing Test cricket now"
Dhoni has praised the result-oriented aggressive approach, often referred to as "Bazball," that teams are adopting in Test cricket these days.
"You can give cricket any term that you want to, what we have seen is cricket has evolved. The way people are playing cricket is very different. There was a time when in ODIs something was considered a safe score, now that score is not safe in T20s too," Dhoni said.
"You give something a term, it becomes much more interesting because you start talking about it, you start relating to it but at the end of the day what is it? It's a way to play cricket."
Having played 90 Tests for India, Dhoni reflected on the challenges of playing on the fifth day when a match appeared headed for a draw.
"For me, the most difficult time during a Test match was the fifth day of a match which is the last day when you knew that 100% it is going to be a draw," he said in the report.
"I would still need to keep for nearly 2.5 sessions and that was the most tiring part. You see there is no result happening, you are just going through the motions. Yes, bowlers would like to take wickets, batters will try to score runs, [but] there is no result in the game.
"You think let's finish this and go, why do I have to be here. So I love the fact there's change in the way teams are playing Test cricket."
Not a fan of draws, Dhoni emphasized the importance of having a result after five days of play.
"Imagine telling someone who doesn't know much cricket we play over five days and we start at 9.30 and 4.30 is the scheduled end of play, we play till 5[pm] sometimes, and after five days we don't get a result. That's not nice for the game. So I love how there's more results in today's world.
"Even if we are playing only four days of cricket and one day gets washed out, still you get a result - that's the beauty of Test cricket and that's how it should stay - you want to get a result after five days and you shouldn't have a draw."
