During his campaign for BJP candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar in the Lok Sabha polls, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar rebuffed recent comments from a senior United Nations official regarding Bharat’s electoral process. Jaishankar asserted he does not require external validation from global entities regarding the conduct of elections within the nation.
The remarks from Jaishankar followed queries regarding a statement made by a spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General expressing hope for the protection of people’s “political and civil rights” in Bharat, emphasising the importance of a “free & fair” voting environment.
Jaishankar further mentioned the UN official’s comment on Indian elections came in response to a “very loaded” question. His response outlined Bharat’s commitment to maintaining the integrity and fairness of its democratic processes without relying on external oversight.
“I don’t need the United Nations to tell me our elections should be free and fair. I have the people of Bharat. The people of Bharat will ensure that elections are free and fair. So, don’t worry about it,” remarked Jaishankar.
Last week, UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric was asked about the “political unrest” in Bharat ahead of the upcoming national elections in the wake of the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the freezing of the Opposition Congress’ bank accounts.
“What we very much hope that in Bharat, as in any country that is having elections, that everyone’s rights are protected, including political and civil rights, and everyone is able to vote in an atmosphere that is free and fair,” stated Dujarric.
