On rare days does a speech that is not made by the Prime Minister makes headlines. Today is one such day. This morning, newspapers across the country carried the speech of Eenam Gambhir, the First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, on their front pages.
In sharp remarks, Gambhir exercised India's Right of Reply during the General Debate of the 71st session UN General Assembly on Wednesday.
Describing the Pakistan PM's speech as "a long tirade", Gambhir attacked Pakistan on the topic of sponsorship of terrorism. The words used were less diplomatic, but definitely no less impactful.
"The land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism. It attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the world. The effects of its toxic curriculum are felt across the globe," she said during her speech.
READ: Full Text Of India's Response To Pakistan At The UN General Assembly
On her Twitter bio, she describes herself as, "an Indian Diplomat, a Delhiite."
Gambhir studied in University of Geneva and currently lives in New York.
Shortly after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif talked about the 'violation of human rights' in Kashmir and sought the world leaders' help, Gambhir had an apt response for him.
"The worst violation of human rights is terrorism," she said.
"When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region. India sees in Pakistan "a terrorist state" which channelizes billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours," she added.
Her speech left everyone present there, breathless. Overnight, Gambhir became a star, and rightly so.
The hashtags and mentions on social media just goes to show how she moved the country with that one speech of hers:
If there is one hashtag we should trend it is #EenamGambhir for such a fab rebuttal to Sharif at @UN on behalf of #India go for it folks!
— Shivnath Thukral (@shivithukral) September 22, 2016
#UNGA I thought Eenam Gambhir's statement in response 2 the rant of Nawaz Sharif was very well drafted. Well done MEA. Now for Sushma Swaraj
— Gurmeet Kanwal (@gurmeetkanwal) September 22, 2016
What a speech by Eenam Gambhir, had tears in my eyes for the sorry state of Pakistan. #SharifUNJoke #terrorstatepak
— Shashank Singh (@RccShashank) September 22, 2016
Kudos to Eenam Gambhir for a superb response to Miya Nawaz Sharif, she tore apart Pakistan single handedly. #IndiaComesFirst
— Ujjwal Pareek (@ujjwalpareek) September 22, 2016
Not surprising that she soon started trending.
Eenam Gambhir, @eenamg is now trending in India https://t.co/6KlseR1xJg
— Trendsmap India (@TrendsmapIndia) September 22, 2016
Gambhir won everyone's hearts in India with her sharp comments.
Eenam Gambhir's speech. Wow!
— Hiccup (@A_Hiccup) September 22, 2016
#IndiaWinsAtUN #EenamGambhir , you killed it! 💕
— Khushi Desai (@ahitskhushi) September 22, 2016
#EenamGambhir awesome reply to pak pm! Perfect point to point rebuttal. You make us Indians proud.
— Gary (@spearbearer369) September 22, 2016
If you have missed her speech, watch it here:
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