Jaishankar Rejects Biden’s “Xenophobia” Claim, Touts India’s 7% Growth

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday dismissed US President Joe Biden’s accusation of “xenophobia” and highlighted India’s economic growth rate of 7 per cent, which surpasses that of numerous other nations. Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s status as the most open, pluralistic, and diverse society, refuting any claims of “xenophobia.”

“We are the most open society, till date I have never seen such an open society, such a pluralistic society, such a diverse society, so I would say that we are actually not just not xenophobic, we are the most open, most pluralistic and in many ways, the most understanding society in the world,” EAM Jaishankar said while interacting with professionals in Bhubaneswar on “Why Bharat Matters”.

“Secondly, there was some talk about economic performance, you know our GDP is at 7 per cent. You check other people’s GDP, check the growth rate and you will get the answer,” he added.

During a Washington fundraising event on April 2, Biden claimed that the “xenophobic” characteristics of India, China, Japan, and Russia contribute to their economic challenges. He asserted that America’s economic growth is attributable to its openness to immigrants. Biden suggested that Japan, Russia, and China would experience improved economic performance if they embraced immigration.

Earlier, in an interview with the Economic Times, Jaishankar dismissed claims of the Indian economy faltering. The Union Minister highlighted the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government as evidence of India’s hospitable stance.

Jaishankar said in the interview published on Saturday, “First of all, our economy is not faltering.”

As per a Ministry of Finance report, the Indian economy is poised to achieve close to 7 per cent growth in the fiscal year 2024-25. This optimistic forecast is credited to strong domestic demand, which has driven the country’s growth rate to over 7 percent in the last three years. The Ministry of Finance also stated in its January monthly review report that India aims to become a USD 7 trillion economy within the next six to seven years. Currently, the Indian economy is estimated to be around USD 3.7 trillion.

Krishnamurthy V Subramaniam, the Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), remarked in April that India will remain a key driver of global growth in the coming years. Speaking with ANI, he highlighted India’s consistent growth of over 7 percent since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Subramaniam predicted an 8 percent growth rate for India in the fourth quarter, which he deemed commendable given the prevailing global economic conditions.

Jaishankar rebutted accusations of President Biden labeling India as “xenophobic,” stressing that the nation has maintained an open and inclusive approach towards individuals from various backgrounds.

“India is always… India has been a very unique country… I would say actually, in the history of the world, that it’s been a society which has been very open… different people from different societies come to India,” he said.

Jaishankar highlighted that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), implemented by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, demonstrates India’s hospitable attitude.

He said, “That’s why we have the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act), which is to open up doors for people who are in trouble… I think we should be open to people who need to come to India, who have a claim to come to India.”

Following Biden’s characterization of India, Japan, and other nations as “xenophobic,” the White House clarified the President’s remarks, underlining his “respect” for allies and partners.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre affirmed that the President’s remarks were part of a larger message highlighting the resilience derived from America’s immigrant background. She emphasized Biden’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties with countries like India and Japan, evident in his actions over the previous three years.

“Obviously, we have a strong relationship with, India with Japan, and the President if you just look at the last three years has certainly focused on those diplomatic relationships,” she said.