Jagdeep Dhankhar Asserts: ‘India Takes Its Own Decisions, No External Power Can Interfere’

No Power Can Dictate India’s Decisions, Says Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday firmly asserted that India, as a sovereign nation, will not be dictated to by any external power and called upon citizens to stay cautious of foreign narratives attempting to influence national discourse.

Addressing the officer trainees of the Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) 2024 batch at the Vice President’s Enclave, Dhankhar emphasised the importance of national autonomy in decision-making.

“India decides for itself”
“Don’t be guided by narratives from outside,” Dhankhar said, as quoted by ANI. “All decisions in this country, a sovereign nation, are taken by its leadership. There is no power on the planet that can dictate to India how to manage its affairs.”

He acknowledged the importance of diplomatic dialogue and international cooperation, but reinforced the primacy of India’s independent decision-making process. “We work in a global comity of nations with mutual respect and in tandem, but at the end of the day, we are sovereign and take our own decisions,” he added.

“Not every bad ball needs to be played”
Drawing a cricketing analogy to caution against reacting to every provocation or criticism, Dhankhar remarked, “Is it necessary to play every bad ball? One who scores runs consistently knows when to leave a delivery. Bad balls may be tempting, but they are best left alone — because someone’s always waiting with gloves behind the stumps.”

The Vice President’s remarks come amid heightened international commentary on various internal issues facing India. His message appeared directed not just at civil servants, but also at the broader public and political class — urging calm, composure, and confidence in the country’s institutional decision-making.