India is not sitting on the “fence” and its foreign policy protects the country’s interests, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said in the context of New Delhi’s position on the ongoing Russian military action in Ukraine. He also called for a shift from Eurocentric approach as Europe ignored many issues affecting the world.
The Minister also hit back at the unfair criticism on Indian oil purchase from Russia amid the Ukraine war that has created a knock-off effect on the world economy.
Defending India's oil imports from Russia, Jaishankar said it is important to understand how the Ukraine conflict is impacting the developing countries. He also questioned why only India was being questioned while Europe continues to import gas from Russia amid the Ukraine war.
Making the country’s position clear, Jaishankar said late Thursday India is not sitting on the fence, just because its policy may not be agreeable to some other countries. India, so far, has abstained from voting against Russia in the United Nations regarding the Ukraine conflict.
"I am not sitting on the fence just because I don't agree with you. It means I am sitting on my ground," he said while speaking at GLOBESEC seminar on ‘Taking Friendship to the Next Level: Allies in the Indo-Pacific.’
Jaishankar stressed this point when asked about the country’s position on the Ukraine conflict and whether India can afford to be sitting on the fence as an emerging world leader.
"This idea that I do a transaction, that I come in one conflict because it will help in conflict 2- that's not how the world works. A lot of our problems in China have nothing to do with Ukraine, Russia. They are predated," Jaishankar said as he was asked on whether India expects global help in its situation with China.
There are a lot of issues where Europe did not speak, he said. "Europe has to get out of the mindset that Europe's problem is the world's problem but the world's problem is not Europe's problem," Jaishankar said.
“Today linkages being made between China and India and what's happening in Ukraine. Come on guys, China and India happened way before Ukraine. I do not see this as a clever argument.” All big challenges facing the world today have their solutions coming from India some way or the other, Jaishankar said.
On being asked whether India buying Russian oil is not funding the ongoing war, Jaishankar said, "Look I don't want to sound argumentative. But then, buying Russian gas is not funding the war? It's only Indian money and Russian oil coming to India that is funding the war and not Russia's gas coming to Europe? Let's be a little even-handed."
Replying to a question on India 'ignoring' Russia-Ukraine war, Jaishankar said India condemned Bucha killing and sought an investigation.
"In terms of what is happening with the Ukraine conflict, our stand is very clear that we favour an immediate cessation of hostilities. It's not that we have ignored it unless you call phone calls to Putin and Zelensky as ignoring something."
India does not accept the 'construct' that it has to side with a power axis and if it does not side with one camp, it will automatically be considered as belonging to the other camp, Jaishankar said.
"I am one-fifth of the world's population. I am what today the 5th or 6th largest economy in the world. Forget the history and civilisation bit; everybody knows that. I feel I am entitled to have my own side," Jaishankar said.