The host had said that if India's problems with China escalate, then India's stand on Ukraine may make it difficult to get global support. On this Jaishankar repeated Mandela's words in his own words. Jaishankar said that there is no need for India to choose any one side, the world does not run like this.
What did Mandela say 32 years ago?
In June 1990, Mandela visited America. Mandela had previously praised leaders such as Yasser Arafat, Muammar Gaddafi, and Fidel Castro for supporting South Africa's fight for the rights of blacks. On this basis, American journalists then questioned him whether these three leaders were ideals of human rights and whether they would like all three to become presidents of their respective countries. What Mandela said in response is one of his most famous statements. Mandela said, 'One mistake that some political analysts make is that they assume that their enemies must be our enemies.'
Jaishankar repeated the same thing in the context of Europe
In GLOBESEC, Jaishankar was asked about China. The host was asking that India is having issues with China, if the situation worsens, does she think that the world will support her, especially when this is your stand on the Ukraine issue. Jaishankar said that China does not need an example from anywhere else on how to include or not to include us or be uncomfortable with or not be uncomfortable with us. Jaishankar's remarks come at a time when European countries are constantly trying to persuade India to take a tough stand against Russia over the attack on Ukraine.
