Dinner with Kim Jong Un or George Soros? S Jaishankar's witty reply

During an interview, Jaishankar was posed a rapid-fire question: Would he prefer to have dinner with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un or controversial businessman George Soros? His response was quick and clever.

In Short

• Jaishankar known for his wit in handling sensitive topics
• He was asked to choose between dining with two controversial figures
• He joked it was Navratri and he was fasting, causing laughter

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar demonstrated his signature wit during a recent interview, when he was asked a particularly tricky rapid-fire question.

In an interview with a news outlet, Jaishankar was posed with a light-hearted yet politically charged query: Who would he prefer to have dinner with—North Korean leader Kim Jong Un or Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros?

Without skipping a beat, Jaishankar deftly sidestepped the potential minefield with a humorous response, saying, "I think this is Navratri, I am fasting," while smiling.

The quip elicited laughter from both the presenter and the audience, quickly turning the moment into a viral sensation on social media.

George Soros, a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is often accused by the BJP of funding anti-India activities and pushing for regime changes to further Western interests. Kim Jong Un, the despotic leader of North Korea, represents a different kind of diplomatic challenge.

Jaishankar’s clever response allowed him to avoid being pulled into the controversies surrounding either figure.

This isn't the first time the career diplomat has made headlines with his quick wit. During a recent public event, Jaishankar responded to a foreign journalist’s question about whether the US is a declining power, saying, "You don't have to convince me about that." The bon mot quickly went viral.

The Minister's ability to handle sensitive topics with a light touch was also on display when he was asked about his conduct at an upcoming visit to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.

With characteristic humour, he replied, "I'm a courteous and civil person, I will behave myself accordingly," earning applause from the audience.