External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar remarked on Friday that akin to the 'Khan Market Gang' within India, there exists a global counterpart attempting to influence Indian politics.

In an interview with news agency ANI, Jaishankar addressed the portrayal of India in Western media, stating, "In the country today, there exists a certain mindset or entitlement, for which the metaphor of the 'Khan Market Gang' is apt. I want to highlight that there is also an international Khan Market gang."

He elaborated, "These individuals are socially connected to the entitled class and share similar viewpoints, representing an elitist, Left-Liberal ideology. There is a symbiotic relationship between the two."

The Khan Market, situated near India Gate in Delhi, is renowned as a posh shopping destination. The term "Khan Market gang" is utilized by the BJP to mock the elite of the Congress party and its associated intelligentsia.

Jaishankar noted that when the "domestic Khan Market gang" faces challenges, the "International Khan Market gang" extends support.

"At times when the 'domestic Khan Market' faces setbacks, the 'international Khan Market gang' rallies to uplift them. There is a deliberate effort to influence Indian politics and voter choices. This is particularly evident during elections but persists afterward as well. Various rankings and assessments aim to undermine India, particularly when the outcomes do not align with their preferences," he asserted.

Earlier, on May 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also referenced the 'Khan Market Gang' when addressing the Opposition after the Calcutta High Court invalidated Other Backward Classes (OBC) certificates issued in Bengal since 2010 under the Trinamool Congress government. PM Modi described the court's decision as a rebuke to the 'Khan Market gang'.