8 recent quips by EAM S Jaishankar that made headlines

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday (April 1) took a dig at China over its claims on Arunachal Pradesh stating that changing names would not have any impact on the fact that the northeastern state is, was and will always be a part of India. "If today I change the name of your house, will it become mine? Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always be a state of India. Changing names does not have an effect," Jaishankar said. (Photo credit: ANI)

"Somebody asked a person from the UN (about Kejriwal's arrest), and he gave some reply. But in other cases, I would say very frankly these are old habits, these are bad habits," Jaishankar said. "There is a certain 'maryada' (restraint) among countries. We are sovereign countries, we should not be interfering in each other's internal affairs, we should not be passing comments about each other's politics," he added. (photo credit: PTI)

"I don't need the United Nations to tell me our elections should be free & fair. I have the people of India. The people of India will ensure that elections are free & fair. So, don't worry about it," the minister told reporters during an interaction here. (Photo credit: PTI)

"My first duty to Indians is to secure border. I can never compromise on that. Normalcy in terms of troop deployment at the border will be the basis for the relationship going forward with China," he added.

While addressing a question regarding whether India will get a permanent seat in UNSC, the EAM slammed the security council stating that the world has evolved since the inception of the council and called for reforms. "But these five nations have kept their control, and it is strange that you have to ask them to give us their consent for a change. A few agree, a few others put forward their position with honesty, while others do something from behind," he said. (Photo credit: Agencies)

"The battle today is for cultural rebalance — how we recognise and present our diversity to the world,” the EAM said. “If we are really to become a self-confident nation seeking to project our civilisation’s power to the world, we have to develop a unique mindset, our own metaphors, our own situation and, in fact, become more aware of our own history,” he said. He was speaking at an event organised at Purana Qila on Sunday. (Photo credit: Agencies)

External affairs minister S Jaishankar in March said that "a terrorist is a terrorist" regardless of language or explanation, and terrorism should never be justified or defended based on linguistic or cultural differences. "You can take it in any language, but a terrorist is a terrorist in any language. Never allow something like terrorism to be excused or defended because they're using a different language or a different explanation," he said. (Photo credit: Agencies)

“This is India which will not be pressured, which will state its mind. If it has to make a choice, we will make a choice for the welfare of our citizens … So, the idea is of much stronger, more capable India and willing to take the tough course,” the EAM said in March. (Photo credit: PTI)