World democracies at crossroads: Hillary Clinton

Democracies across the world, including US and India, are at crossroads and there was a need to stand up against the chaos to protect democracy, former Secretary of State of the United States Hillary Rodham Clinton has said.

Delivering the keynote address, titled 'The Great Churn: What Happens Now', at the concluding session of the India Today Conclave 2018 late on Saturday evening , she said, ''never before we needed your (India's) energy like now. There is a need to speak against sexism, racism and stand up at this crossroad moment. Don't give way to anger, resentment and disappointment. Stay engaged, speak out.''

Ms Clinton said both US and India are facing serious undercurrents that are threatening to strike at the roots of democracy.

"He (US President Donald Trump) will damage it. However, it will be reparable," she added.

Talking about the situation in the US post the 2016 Presidential elections which she lost to realty tycoon turned politician Donald Trump, Clinton said that she did not have a problem with a power difference in her country but was worried about fewer debates on pertinent issues, that will take it towards one-party dominance.

"That is the situation in Washington at present," she said.

While analysing her defeat, Clinton said that it was "the first ever reality TV election" in the history of the US.

''Reality TV' because a person who is the most outrageous and prone to say incorrect things gets away with it, drawing big rankings. Many people were, unfortunately, attracted to such diatribes. Voters have to be trained. TV debates are entertaining, but they do not give more information to voters. I should have given them more entertainment," she said in a sarcastic remark directed at Trump.

When asked  whether US deserved a president like Trump, she was quick to say "No."

She also said that Trump could not understand why a country that has nuclear weapons did not use them.

Ms Clinton counted reaction against the immigrants as one of the reasons behind Trump's win.

''US has immigrants from Latin America, India and China. They are hard working and law abiding, but there was a campaign against the immigrants. Trump's campaign of 'Make America Great Again' was backward. I won from the places which has 2/3rd share in the gross domestic product" she said.

She also admitted that a smearing campaign was on, saying she was going to jail.

"That stopped my momentum and decreased my votes," she said. Ms Clinton suggested that Russia President Vladimir Putin influenced the elections in the US because he had personal issues against her.

"He is not the best of feminists I have met," she said.

She claimed that Putin was against her because he suspected that she fanned a protest against him in the 2011 Russia election.

"I was also outspoken on the Russian invasion on Syria. We had professional relationship. We had conversations but he wanted to restore greatness of Russia. Russia was trying to divide Americans and put them against each other,''she said.

Expressing concerns on changes in the US foreign policy post 2016, Clinton said,'' the new administration is in hurry to dispose of the earlier relations the US had painstakingly stitched with other countries. It is a shame that US is the only country that is not part of the Paris climate change accord. He (Trump) is undoing and rejecting everything done before. He takes ideas from the right wing media,"she said.

Talking about stability within India's neighbours, she pointed that Afghanistan is an ongoing disappointment.

She also hit at Pakistan for offering shelter to terrorists. "We tried different things, but when you have safe haven and not consistent support to weed out terrorists, it is difficult to find a solution," she said.

She also revealed that she had recommended President Barack Obama to conduct a raid on Osama Bin Laden who was hiding in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

To a question whether she would run again for President, Clinton said she had no plans to do so.

"I won't run again. I will be delighted if 2020 we are back on right track. I want to work for people's betterment,''she said.