Highly inappropriate: Gehlot on Jaishankar’s dalaal remark in all-party meeting

Veteran Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Thursday criticised S Jaishankar over his use of the word “dalaal” during the all-party meeting on the West Asia crisis and said the use of such language by an external affairs minister is “inappropriate”.

Gehlot also said that US President Donald Trump’s behaviour towards Modi was “difficult to understand”.

The central Government on Wednesday told an all-party meeting on the West Asia crisis that there is nothing new in Pakistan’s mediation efforts in the matter, as that country has been “used” by the US since 1981.

“We are not a dalaal nation,” Jaishankar had told the attendees of the meeting convened at the Parliament complex.

Targeting the external affairs minister for his remarks in the context of Pakistan’s mediation in the war, the senior Congress leader said that it is highly inappropriate for the external affairs minister to assert that someone is engaging in “Dalaali.”

“I believe that no external affairs minister should use such language when referring to another nation.

If this were a slip of the tongue, he should express regret. Otherwise, he deserves to face severe criticism in the country,” he said.

“How can one claim that someone is acting as a dalaal? What does dalaali mean? If peace is not established among the nations and violence is allowed to persist unchecked, where will the world head? Is it heading toward a third world war? No one knows where it will end up,” he added.

Gehlot, who is the former Rajasthan chief minister, said every section of society and every nation must strive to establish peace.

“Yet, amidst this global crisis, you (referring to Jaishankar) claim that a nation (Pakistan) is engaging in dalaali?” he said.

The former Rajasthan chief minister also questioned the role of Pakistan in the ongoing mediation for the West Asia crisis.

“We have seen its position in the 1965 war, in 1971, and during Kargil, each time it (Pakistan) faced defeat,” he said.

Gehlot said that in developments like Operation Sindoor, countries like Turkey backed it.

“One must understand the difference between Pakistan and India, yet it is Pakistan that is talking about mediation and facilitating dialogue, he added.

He said that people are concerned about how the situation has changed over time.

Referring to the 1971 war, he said, “There was a time during Indira Gandhi’s leadership when over 90,000 (Pakistani) soldiers, including generals, colonels and majors, were taken into custody and brought to India. And today, everyone can see the country’s situation in the current international context.”

Gehlot said the global situation is very delicate and the Centre is slow in its response despite prior warnings.

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, had earlier cautioned about such a scenario and accused the Government of delaying preparedness, he said.

“The Government should have prepared in time. Conflict (in West Asia) has led to this situation, but people should be taken into confidence and assured that efforts are being made to minimise inconvenience,” he added.

He also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address in Parliament, saying the level of preparedness did not match the gravity of the situation and had drawn criticism.

The former Rajasthan chief minister also said that US President Donald Trump’s behaviour towards Modi was “difficult to understand”.

“At times, he (Trump) calls him (Modi) a friend, while other times he says Modi is trying to please him, and sometimes even claims he could end his political career. I have never heard any President make such remarks about another country’s prime minister or President,” he added.

He also referred to developments in Venezuela some time back, saying, “If a country can kidnap the President of another nation, it is deeply troubling. What is even more unfortunate is that no country in the world condemned it or expressed concern.”