Indian diplomatic chief after Biden’s remark: India is not xenophobic

Mr. Biden, who will face former Republican President Donald Trump for re-election in November, said at a campaign fundraiser in Washington on Wednesday night that the upcoming U.S. election is about “freedom, America and democracy” and that the country’s economy is booming.

“Why?” Because we accept immigrants, Mr. Biden said. “Think about it.” Why is China’s economy stalling so badly? Why is Japan in trouble? Why Russia? Why India? Because they are xenophobic. They don’t want immigrants.”

Japan is a very important ally of the United States. India, one of the world’s fastest growing economies, is a crucial partner in the Indo-Pacific region, despite human rights differences.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (Subrahmanyam Jayashankar) told the media on Friday that Mr. Biden’s comments did not correspond to the reality of India.

“First of all, our economy is not stagnant,” he said. The Minister’s words were quoted by The Economic Times newspaper on Saturday.

“India is a very unique country. I would say that, to be honest, it is a very open society in the history of the world,” said S. Jaishankar.

Critics accuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government of discrimination against Muslims, including through recent changes to India’s citizenship law.

The changes, which sparked massive protests when they were passed by parliament in 2019, came into force in March. Rights group Amnesty International has warned that the reform, along with the controversial National Register of Citizens, could become a tool to strip some Muslims of their citizenship.

“There are people who have publicly said that […] one million Muslims in this country will lose their citizenship, said S. Jaishankar. – Why are they not required to answer? Because no one lost their citizenship.”

“Pity”

Responding to the US president’s remarks on Saturday, Tokyo said it was “regrettable that comments were made that were not based on an accurate understanding of Japanese politics.”

Mr. Biden, who became president in 2021, is strengthening ties with US allies in Asia, especially with India and Japan.

He has hosted state dinners at the White House for both Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The White House later tried to downplay Mr. Biden’s comment.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Mr. Biden simply wanted to clarify the U.S. position on immigration and say that “the United States is a nation of immigrants.”

“Our allies and partners know very well how much President Biden values ​​them, their friendship, their cooperation and the ability they bring to a range of issues beyond security,” Kirby said Thursday when asked about Biden’s remarks. “They understand how much he values ​​the idea of ​​alliances and partnerships.”