West has habit of commenting on others, says EAM Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar slammed the US and Germany on Sunday for their response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha, saying the West thinks it has a right of commenting on the internal affairs of other countries.

Speaking at Cubbon Park, Jaishankar said: "the West has had a bad habit for a long time of commenting on others. They somehow think it is some kind of God-given right. They will have to learn only by experience that if you keep doing this, other people will also start commenting and they will not like it when it happens. I see that happening."

Jaishanakar criticised Gandhi, saying, "We need to stop giving generous invitations to the world saying there are problems in India, and (urging) America and the world (by saying), why are you standing by doing nothing...part of the problem is them, part of the problem is us."


The US and German governments had issued statements on Gandhi being disqualified from the Lok Sabha after a Surat court convicted him in a case of criminal defamation for his remarks about the surname 'Modi.' The countries have said that they are watching the proceedings closely and that they expect standards of democratic principle and judicial independence will be applied. While Congress leaders welcomed the foreign nations' remarks, the BJP has lashed out at the party.