When External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived at the Lotte Palace Hotel in New York to attend the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) ministerial meeting, he had just landed in the city that morning. In the meeting room on the fourth floor, Jaishankar shared the reason for his quick arrival – India had just passed a historic law reserving one-third of parliamentary and state assembly seats for women in a special parliamentary session. This news earned India accolades, with South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, commending India for this progressive step and leading a round of applause among the delegates.
While the women’s reservation bill garnered praise, India’s success in hosting the G20 summit during its presidency was another highlight. UK’s Minister of State for South Asia, Tariq Ahmad, offered congratulations to India for its G20 achievements during his meeting with Jaishankar. Jaishankar, in response, credited the success to the collaborative efforts of all G20 members, highlighting the educational aspect of the entire process.
During a bilateral meeting with Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani at the same venue, the G20 was also a prominent topic of discussion, with Al Zayani praising India’s role and expressing appreciation.
Amidst the headlines focusing on Canada’s allegations against India, Delhi’s reputation is shaped not only by these disputes but also by its progressive steps in enhancing women’s representation and its active engagement in multilateral diplomacy. India’s global story extends beyond the controversies, encompassing its commitment to gender equality and effective multilateralism.