Speaking to Carnegie Endowment in Washington DC, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar was asked about US political leaders making comments about democracy in India.

Dr Jaishankar responded saying, "...One there is the reality and second is the handling of reality. The reality is the world is very globalised and as a result, politics does not necessarily stay within the national boundaries of the country. The United States makes a special effort to ensure it doesn't. That is a part of how the US has conducted its foreign policy over the years...Some players like to shape not only the politics of their own country but try and do it globally...You write up reports about people and you spotlight countries...Democracies must be mutually respected, it cannot be that one democracy has a right to comment on another and that's a part of promoting democracy globally but when others do that then it becomes foreign interference. Foreign interference is foreign interference, irrespective of who does it and where it is done. It is a testy area and my personal view is you have every right to comment but I have every right to comment on your comment, so don't feel bad when I do".