Indian Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar has rejected remarks by Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, about the fairness of the upcoming Indian elections. Jaishankar stated that there should be no worry, as Indian voters will take care of it.
“I don't need the UN to tell me that our elections should be free and fair. I have the people of India. They will ensure that the elections are free and fair. So, don't worry about it", Jaishankar said on Thursday, while interacting with media in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram.
The minister was campaigning for his ministerial colleague Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the BJP's candidate from the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency.
Earlier, Dujarric said that the organisation hopes "everyone in India is able to vote in a free and fair atmosphere." His comments came against the backdrop of Indian opposition parties claiming there is no "level playing field" for them.
“What we very much hope that in India, as in any country that is having elections, that everyone's rights are protected, including political and civil rights, and everyone is able to vote in an atmosphere that is free and fair”, Dujarric said.