‘Irresponsible and regrettable’: Govt dissociates itself from unwarranted remarks by high state authority

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday dissociated itself from the remarks made by a high state authority and stated that such comments undermine India’s ties with friendly countries.

The MEA's response came hours after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann made a controversial comment over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trips to countries with small populations.

Jokingly, Mann also said that PM Modi might be visiting countries like ‘Magnesia’, ‘Galveaisa’, or ‘Tarvesia’.

“PM has gone somewhere. I think it is Ghana. He is going to be back and he is welcome. God knows which countries he keeps visiting, 'Magnesia', 'Galveaisa', ‘Tarvesia’,” said Mann.

The Chief Minister further said that Modi does not stay in a country with 140 crore people, and added.

"He is visiting countries where the population is 10,000 and he is getting the 'highest awards' there.

"Here, 10,000 people gather to watch a JCB... What has he gotten himself into!...," Mann added.

Meanwhile, without mentioning anyone's name, MEA said that they have seen some comments made by a high state authority about India’s relations with friendly countries from the Global South.

"These remarks are irresponsible and regrettable and do not behove the state authority. The Government of India dissociates itself from such unwarranted comments that undermine India’s ties with friendly countries," reads the statement shared by MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.