Indian FM Jaishankar rebuts Biden’s allegation of Indian xenophobia

Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar rejects U.S. President Biden’s claim of xenophobia hindering India’s economic progress, citing historical openness

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has rebuffed U.S. President Joe Biden’s claim that “xenophobia” is hindering India’s economic progress, according to reports on Saturday.

Speaking at a roundtable organized by the newspaper on Friday, Jaishankar disputed Biden’s remarks, stating that India’s economy has not stalled and emphasized the country’s historical openness as a society.

Jaishankar referred to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as proof of India’s willingness to welcome those in need, referring to the law providing citizenship to migrants fleeing persecution from neighboring countries.

“That’s why we have the CAA, which opens up doors for people who are in trouble. I think we should be open to people who need to come to India,” he stated.

Earlier in the week, Biden made a series of statements criticizing xenophobia in China, Japan, and India, arguing that it was hindering economic growth in those countries.

His remarks came during a fundraiser for his 2024 reelection campaign, coinciding with the start of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

According to a April report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), growth is expected to slow for Asia’s three largest economies in 2024, while the U.S. economy is expected to grow slightly faster, partly due to immigrants contributing to the expansion of the labor force.

Source: Reuters