India can never allow others to have a veto on its choices and it would do whatever was right in the national interest and for the global good “without being intimidated to conform”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday.
“Independence should never be confused with neutrality. We will do whatever is right in our national interest and for the global good without being intimidated to conform. Bharat can never permit others to have a veto on its choices,” he said in a video message for a function in Mumbai. The External Affairs Minister underlined that technology and tradition must march together in the age of globalisation. He also said that when India was etched more deeply in global consciousness, its repercussions were truly profound.
“Bharat will inevitably progress, but it must do so without losing its Bharatiyata (Indianness). Only then can we truly emerge as a leading power in a multipolar world,” he added.
Jaishankar spoke for the Mumbai event where he was conferred the 27th SIES Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati National Eminence Award. The awards are given in four fields – public leadership, community leadership, human endeavor, science and technology, and social leadership – with primacy on spiritualism. The awards are named after the late 68th seer of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi.
