Mumbai External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said India will never allow others to ‘veto’ its decisions and will do whatever is right for the national interest and global well-being, regardless of any fear. When India becomes more deeply embedded in the global consciousness, the results are truly tremendous, he said in a video message for an event in Mumbai.
He said that in a world struggling with unhealthy habits, stressful lifestyle or frequent climate events, a lot can be learned from India’s heritage, but the world will know it only when the countrymen are proud of it.
Jaishankar said that in the era of globalization, technology and tradition will have to go together. He said, “India will definitely progress, but it will have to do so without losing its Indianness. “Only then will we be able to truly emerge as a leading power in a multipolar world.”
Jaishankar has been honored with the 27th ‘SIES Shri Chandrashekharendra Saraswati National Eminence Award’. The award is named after the 68th Seer of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Late Shri Chandrashekharendra Saraswati. The Foreign Minister did not attend the program but sent his video message.
He said, “Independence should never be confused with neutrality. We will do whatever is right for our national interest and global well-being without any fear of being ‘congruent’. India can never allow others to veto its decisions.”
Jaishankar said that India stands at an important juncture today. On the one hand, the past decade has shown that it has the capabilities, the confidence and, most importantly, the commitment to pursue development on broad fronts.