S Jaishankar flags West’s view on global democracy, calls it ‘double standards’

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar once again took on the West over what he described as the “double standards” of global democracy at a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference. In front of the Western leaders, including a US Senator, Jaishankar said straight out of the talk that the West treated democracy as a “Western characteristic” and had been busy encouraging “non-democratic forces” in the Global South.

Apart from Jaishankar, the panel comprised Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, US Senator Elissa Slotkin and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowsk.

During the panel discussion, Jaishankar said the countries of the Global South are more likely to relate and say that the “Indian experience is more transposable to their societies than perhaps to those of others”. He also said it was key for the West to embrace the successful models of non-Western countries if it wants democracy to prevail.

“There was a time and I would have to say this in all honesty when the West treated democracy as a Western characteristic and was busy encouraging non-democratic forces in the Global South, and it still does. I mean in many cases, I can point to some very recent ones where everything that you say you value at home, you don’t practice abroad. So, I do think the rest of the Global South will view the successes, shortcomings and the responses of other countries,” he said.

Asked whether countries in the Global South still aspire to a democratic system and the model that would attract people, the External Affairs Minister said, “Look, to an extent, all big countries are unique to an extent. But, we would certainly hope, I mean to the extent, we think of democracy as a universal aspiration, ideally a reality. India chose a democratic model after independence and it chose a democratic model because we have been fundamentally a consultative pluralistic society.”

Jaishankar said that India has “historically been an open society” and stayed true to being a democratic model despite challenges.

“I would argue in many ways that India has historically been an open society, one very much linked with the world. So, I do think that in our progress as a democracy, the fact that for all the challenges that we have had, even at a low income, we have stayed true to the democratic model. When you look at our part of the world, we are pretty much the only country that has done that,” he said.

“So, I think this is something the West should look at because if you do want democracy eventually to prevail, it is important that the West also embraces the successful models outside the West,” he added.

Slamming “self-appointed custodians” who questioned the rights and wrongs of a democracy, he said that such people would be challenged eventually.

“To self-appointed custodians who have never fought a election, who have nothing to do with democracy is actually telling the rest of the world what is right and what is wrong in a democracy. I think it is, to me, inevitable that it will be challenged,” he said.

“Every country has its mainstream politics and outliers. If I were to look for example, like how much Europeans and Westerners reach out to outliners in those societies? If i were to look at what Western Ambassadors do in India, if my Ambassadors did a fraction of that, you would all be up in arms. I think there are double standards here,” he added.

Jaishankar differed in the view that global democracy is under threat and said that India is a democratic society and gives nutrition support to 800 million people. He showed his inked index finger, saying “for us, democracy is actually delivered”.

“I appeared to be an optimist in what is relatively a pessimistic panel, if not room. I will begin by sticking up my finger and don’t take it badly. It is the index finger. This, the mark you see on my nail, is a mark of a person who has just voted. We just had an election in my state (Delhi). Last year, we had a national election. In Indian elections, roughly two-thirds of the eligible voters vote. At the national elections, the electorate of about 900 million, about 700 million voted. We count the votes in a single day,” he said when asked about his views on Western democracy.

Countering US Senator Slotkin’s remark that democracy “doesn’t put food on the table”, Jaishankar said India gives nutrition support to 800 million people.

“Senator, you said that democracy doesn’t put food on your table. Actually, in my part of the world, it does. Today, since we are a democratic society, we give nutrition support, and food to 800 million people. 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.

JAISHANKAR RETORTED WEST OVER INDIA BUYING RUSSIAN OIL

Earlier, Jaishankar sharply rejected the West’s criticism of India continuing to buy Russian oil despite Western sanctions amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and said it shouldn’t be a concern for others.

He argued that India prevented a surge in global oil prices with its purchase policies, which in turn, prevented potential competition with Europe in the market.

“Is that a problem, why should that be a problem? If I am smart enough to have multiple options, you should be admiring me,” Jaishankar said at a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference in February last year. His response was to a question on India’s balancing act between its growing ties with the US and continuing trade with Russia.

Jaishankar’s retort elicited smiles from then US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock, who were also part of the panel.

In recent years, the import of crude oil from Russia has significantly gone up, with Moscow becoming the largest supplier of crude oil to India, accounting for more than 35 per cent of the country’s imports.

In December last year, Jaishankar defended India’s decision to purchase oil from Russia and asked whether the world had a “better deal” to meet New Delhi’s energy demands. “I get oil, yes. It is not necessarily cheap. Do you have a better deal?” he said.

In an interview with a German newspaper, Jaishankar said India expanded its economic ties with Russia despite Moscow’s military aggression in Ukraine. He also said that Russia never violated India’s interests and the bilateral ties remain “stable and friendly”.

Jaishankar’s remark found support from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who said that India buying crude oil from Russia was a “national dignity”.

Jaishankar, in an interview with an Italian newspaper, again refuted the West’s attacks on India’s purchase of Russian oil amid the Ukraine war and said that “this part of the world” should understand that everyone has its own interests.

Singling out Europe’s “selective approach”, the External Affairs Minister asked why the continent had not cut off its business ties with Russia, even if it was a matter of principles.