'Vishwaguru' in the mirror

India of BJP-RSS so covets rights to sermonise to the world. But does our present conform to brilliant past? Can we aspire for that moral stature if we respond to criticism with prickly whataboutery?

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has wowed people back home with his sharp response to criticism over two issues: India’s enhanced purchase of oil from Russia and the human rights situation here. To the first, he responded substantively, reminding the questioner at his joint press conference after the 2+2 meeting that Europe imported from Russia in one afternoon what India did in a month. So look, who’s talking. Brilliant.

To the second, his somewhat belated counter was pure rhetoric and it’s no surprise that has cheered the fans at home even more. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a somewhat