External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday hit out at the Opposition over criticism of the government putting up elaborate arrangements for G20 Summit.
Jaishankar in an interview to news agency ANI said: "If somebody felt that they were most comfortable in Lutyens' Delhi or completely comfortable in Vigyan Bhawan - that is their prerogative. That was their world.”
He also said current government is different and there is a different thought process involved.
“So, yes you have had Summit meetings where the impact of the country probably went 2 kilometres, on a good day, out of Vigyan Bhawan. This is a different government.
It's a different era. It's a different thought process,” he said.
He said on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi G20 summit has been treated as national endeavour.
“PM felt that and all of us have worked in that direction that the G20 is something that should be treated as a national endeavour, that different parts of India must have a sense of participation and that this is something which has been truly non-partisan...,” he said.
While lambasting Opposition, EAM Jaishankar said the people who choose to remain stuck in 1983, it is their choice.
He however said that those people should realise that the country has moved on in 2023.
“For those who feel that we should be stuck in 1983, you are welcome to be stuck in 1983. I am sorry the country has moved on, we are in 2023," he said.
Jaishankar also said India that is Bharat is mentioned in the Constitution.
"India that is Bharat, it is there in the Constitution. Please, I would invite everybody to read it,"Jaishankar said.
He was asked about the opposition parties' reaction and if the government is going to reposition India as Bharat coinciding with the G20 summit.
"Look when you say Bharat in a sense, a meaning and understanding and a connotation that comes with it and that is reflected in our Constitution as well," he said.
Opposition parties have alleged that the government was resorting to "drama" just because they got together and called their bloc as INDIA.
Meanwhile, Jaishankar also reacted to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin skipping the G20 Summit saying their representatives are coming
"with great deal of seriousness".
"...I think, at different points of time in G20 there have been some Presidents or PMs who, for whatever reason, have chosen not to come themselves. But that country and its position is reflected by whoever is the representative on that occasion...I think everybody is coming with a great deal of seriousness...," he said.
