S Jaishankar hits back at Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan for dig at his visit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday urged people to have faith in the agencies and the judiciary looking into the controversial gold smuggling case. He said he will not comment on the misuse of diplomatic channels since the matter is before the court. Responding to the critical comments made by CM Pinarayi Vijayan that political motives were behind the minister’s visit to the state, Jaishankar said, “people should not be so insecure.”
Addressing media, Jaishankar said his visit was part of an ongoing exercise to understand how the central government schemes and projects work across the country. Interaction with various groups of people, he said, was also aimed at understanding the ground situation in different parts of the country.
“If getting a good understanding about what is happening on ground is politically motivated, my political motivation and his must be different,” he said when CM’s criticism was brought to his attention.
Speaking at the silver jubilee celebrations of state service pensioners union earlier in the day, Vijayan had alleged political motives were behind Jaishankar’s visit. “It was a surprise to see the picture of the external affairs minister standing on the flyover. The minister, who handles the external affairs, finding time to inspect flyover construction is the beginning of something else,” he had said, adding that the minister’s visit was in view of the Lok Sabha elections due after 18 months.
Responding to the CM's statement, Jaishankar further said that Union ministers do not keep themselves properly informed about the central government schemes and projects, they would be failing in their duties. “We work as a team. We talk and give feedback to each other. Anybody who puts development above politics will understand what I'm doing here, he said, adding that “people should not be so insecure”.
“This is a democracy. Everybody has a right to practice politics and people will naturally do whatever they have to do to support of the political belief in which they have faith,” the minister said.
The external affairs minister who refused to make any comment on the progress of the investigation into the gold smuggling case said the centre was fully aware of the developments and it would act at the appropriate time.
“Let the truth come out...We will act only when it is time for us to act. I have full faith in our system. Others should also have it,” he said.