7 Essential Facts About Navratri Day 6: Maa Katyayani
1. Who Is Maa Katyayani? Maa Katyayani is a powerful incarnation of Goddess Durga, revered for her strength and bravery.
When asked to choose between having dinner with North Koreas Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and George Soros, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar cleverly replied, 'I think it is Navratri, I am fasting.' This witty response quickly went viral on social media.
Jaishankar's response was given during an interview where he was asked to pick between two controversial figures. His clever sidestep allowed him to avoid being pulled into the controversies surrounding either figure.
George Soros, a Hungarian-American billionaire and philanthropist, has been a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has been accused by the BJP of attempting to interfere with 'India's democratic process.'
Kim Jong Un, the despotic leader of North Korea, represents a different kind of diplomatic challenge. Jaishankars response effectively sidestepped the potential minefield of this question.
Jaishankar will be visiting Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, marking the first time an Indian foreign minister has traveled to Pakistan since 2015. He clarified that his visit will be for a multilateral event and not to discuss India-Pakistan relations.
Jaishankar emphasized that he will not be holding any bilateral talks with Pakistan during his visit. His focus will be on participating in the multilateral event as a good member of the SCO.
Jaishankar has been known for his wit in handling sensitive topics. During a recent public event, he responded to a foreign journalists question about whether the US is a declining power by saying, 'You don't have to convince me about that.' This bon mot quickly went viral.
When asked about his conduct during the upcoming visit to Pakistan, Jaishankar humorously replied, 'I'm a courteous and civil person, I will behave myself accordingly.' This response earned applause from the audience.
A political controversy erupted after the leader of Imran Khan's party said they were planning to invite Jaishankar to join their protests in support of Khan. However, Jaishankar clarified that he was not invited to participate in any protests.
Jaishankar has highlighted Indias stance in multiple global conflicts. He emphasized that India is involved in various diplomatic efforts to resolve these conflicts, stating, 'You have a dog in every fight'
Jaishankar also discussed the economic consequences of the Israel-Iran war, stating that it is a great concern for India, impacting oil and exports. He emphasized the need for diplomatic efforts to mitigate these effects.