Jaishankar takes dig at American media for 'biased' India coverage

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has slammed the mainstream American media including The Washington Post for their biased coverage of IndiaI look at the media You know there are some newspapers you know exactly what they are going to write including one in this town Jaishankar told a gathering of IndianAmericans from across the country amidst laughter and applause on SundayThe prestigious Washington Post is the national daily published from Washington DC and is currently being owned by Jeff Bezos of AmazonMy point is there are biases there are efforts really to determineLook the more India goes its way and the people who believe that they were the custodians and the shapers of India lose ground in India the more actually some of these debaters gonna come outside Jaishankar said responding to a question on the increase in antiIndian forces in this countryAlso read Jaishankar Ukrainian FM discuss UkraineRussia war its global repercussionsSuch groups he asserted are not winning in India Such groups the minister noted will try and win outside or try and shape India from outsideThis is something which we need to be aware of It is important to contest It isnt because most Americans will not know what sort of the nuances and the complexities of back home so its important not to sit back not to let other people define me That is something which I feel as a community is very important for us he saidResponding to a question on misrepresentation of the Kashmir issue in the American capital Jaishankar said if there is a terrorist incident it doesnt matter what faith the person whos killed belongs toIf there are Indian soldiers or Indian policemen who are abducted If there are people working for the government or citizens going about their business who will lose their lives he addedHow often do you hear people talking about it pronouncing it in fact look at the media coverage What does the media cover what does the media not cover the External Affairs Minister askedThat is how actually opinions and perceptions are shaped he underlinedThere is a big song and dance about the Internet being cut Now if youve reached the stage where you say an Internet cut is more dangerous than the loss of human lives then what can I say Jaishankar said amidst applause from the audienceIf you look at A Article 370issue What was a temporary provision of the Constitution was finally put to rest this was supposed to be an act of majority This was supposed to be majoritarian Tell me what was happening in Kashmir was not majoritarian I think the way facts are slanted things are laid out What is right what is wrong is confused This is actually politics at workWe should not let it go We should contest it We should educate We should shape the narrative This is a competitive world We need to get our messages out That is my message to you he saidWe are not serving our country well or our beliefs well or even our sense of what is right and wrong but by staying out of these debates I think we have opinions we must express them we must share it with people we must educate others on what is right and what is wrongI honestly believe that if you look at the whole 370 the Jammu and Kashmir situation to me its mind boggling Something whose merits were so obvious should actually there even be people who would think different way Jaishankar said