New Delhi, Feb. 4 -- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday, criticized the inconsistent application of principles in global politics, particularly regarding democracy and military rule, while pointing to the "different standards" being applied to India's eastern and western neighbours.

While delivering the keynote address at the IIC-Bruegel Annual Seminar in Delhi, the Minister emphasised that the agenda can no longer be set by some only to be observed by the rest.

"Even on a question like democracy and military rule. Different standards have been applied to our neighbours in the East and our neighbours in the West. It is not my case that principles are dispensable or that we must be utterly into real politics but the agenda...