'We must contest, and not let go': Jaishankar on American media's 'biased' India coverage

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on September 25 slammed the US media, accusing it of 'biases' against India.

The minister outlined that it was important to contest, not to sit back and therefore not let other people define India.

"This is something which we need to be aware of. It is important to contest. It isn't because most Americans will not know what sort of the nuances and the complexities of back home, so, it's important not to sit back, not to let other people define me. That is something which I feel as a community is very important for us," he said.

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Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the EAM in a veiled jibe at US national daily 'The Washington Post' said he was well aware of what the newspapers including the ones in New York will write.

"I look at the media. You know, there are some newspapers you know, exactly, what they are going to write including one in this town," he said amid laughter and applause on Sunday.

Responding to a question on misrepresentation of the Kashmir issue in the American capital, Jaishankar said if there is a terrorist incident, it doesn't matter what faith the person who's killed belongs to.

Highlighting that there are Indian soldiers, Indian officials who are losing their lives, he questioned the media coverage on such matters. "How often do you hear people talking about it; pronouncing it, in fact, look at the media coverage. What does the media cover what does the media not cover?," the EAM said.

The minister pointed that opinions and perceptions are shaped in a fashion saying that facts are played with. "The way facts are slanted, things are laid out over what's right and what's wrong is confused. This is politics at work," the EAM suggested.

Jaishankar affirmed that it was important to not let it go, and contest. "We should shape the narrative. This is a competitive world. We need to get our messages out," he added.

The anti-India forces, Jaishankar said are "not winning in India". "They will try and win outside or try and shape India from outside," he concluded

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