NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will always be with the people of the country in good times and in times of crisis. He was recalling an incident during an event in New York when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021.
Indians were evacuated from Taliban-held Afghanistan as part of Operation Devi Shakti. Jaishankar revealed that on the day of the evacuation at 12.30 am, Prime Minister called him on the phone and enquired the details.
It was past midnight. The Indian Consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif was attacked. We contacted several people on the phone to find out what happened. In the meanwhile, I received a call. When the Prime Minister calls, there will be no caller ID. I attended the call and his first question was ‘are you awake’.
#WATCH | NY, US: Recounting India's evacuation effort from Afghanistan, EAM Jaishankar says, "It was past midnight... PM called me, his first question was - "Jaage ho?"... I apprised him that help is on its way. He told me to call him when it's done... that's a singular quality." pic.twitter.com/AxL7Ddp6d6
— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2022
What else to do at midnight? The audience laughed at Jaishankar's question. However, it would be normal in Modi's life. Then he asked again. Are you watching TV. I conveyed him all the information relating to the evacuation. Informed the Prime Minister that a team has left for help. He asked me to inform him everything when it’s done. I told him that it will be too late when everything gets over and will inform his office. Jaishankar said that his response was to call him and inform him everything.
Jaishankar said Modi will always be with the people of the country in good times and in times of crisis. Jaishankar opined that we have seen Modi's actions during the pandemic and not all leaders are ready to act like this.