EAM Jaishankar accuses Press Freedom Index of being ‘mind games’ against India

Mysore: An organisation called ‘Reports Without Borders’ has done the feat of giving India the 161st position in the ‘Press Freedom Index’ i.e. the list of countries that grant freedom to journalism. In this list, Afghanistan is in the 152nd position, ahead of India. Therefore, it seems that this organisation has claimed that journalists and media are more independent in Afghanistan than in India. India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, thus, appears to have given a slap in the face to this organisation. Is India more dangerous than Afghanistan? By raising this question, Jaishankar criticised that this is a ‘mind game’, i.e. a part of propaganda. At the same time, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar asserted that India is a country that has the most uncontrolled press.

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said that countries that do not like us but are liked very much by others are trying to spread their propaganda. At this time, Jaishankar alleged that illusions are being spread about India by indicating that some people are deliberately doing such activities against India. A few weeks ago, the ‘World Happiness Index’, i.e. the list of happiest countries in the world, was released. India was deliberately left behind in this too. Even at that time, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar had accused it of being a mind game. On this occasion, Jaishankar cited one of his friends in Singapore who had said to him that Indians are happier than people in European countries.

The World Happiness Index showed that people in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, which even suffer from food and energy shortages and unemployment, are happier than people in India. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar also took cognisance of it. Jaishankar had raised questions on the credibility of those who publish such lists.

Meanwhile, after the conflict in Ukraine began, India adopted a neutral policy without succumbing to the pressure of the US and European countries. Despite its pressure, India kept its cooperation with Russia intact. On the contrary, it increased the purchase of fuel from Russia to a huge extent, which is not acceptable to the US and European countries. But these countries have realised that taking an open stand against India will cost them dearly. That is why such kinds of ‘mind games’ are being done to spread as much propaganda as possible against India. The Western media and some anti-India groups seem to be involved in this. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar has raised awareness about such things as well from time to time.

A few weeks ago, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the anti-India mentality came to the fore during her visit to the US. Speaking in a program organised by a news channel, Sitharaman informed that she presented evidence of India’s economic progress in the program in the US and received a great response. But after this, in the concluding segment, the comments passed quoted that ‘minorities are insecure in India’. Sitharaman explained that she was shocked. Sitharaman further pointed out that the minority communities in India are safe, and their numbers are growing. At the same time, the number of minorities in Pakistan who blame India has decreased tremendously, and we also made the audience aware that they are being tortured there, Sitharaman explained.

Realising that there is no option when it comes to getting financial support from India, Western countries are continuously trying to pressure India by raising issues like human rights, religious freedom, etc. Targeting India by publishing lists like Press Freedom Index and Happiness Index seems part of this effort. However, India’s leadership is giving clear indications that current India will not accept this kind of pressure; rather, it will not rest till it gives back a befitting reply.

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