News Analysis India

Tag: External Affairs Ministry

  • MEA processing Karnataka request on Prajwal Revanna

    NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: The external affairs ministry has received a request from the Karnataka government to cancel the diplomatic passport of Janata Dal (Secular) MP and alleged sex offender Prajwal Revanna, and the matter is being “processed”, said people familiar with the matter.

    “The ministry has received a letter from the Karnataka government for cancellation of diplomatic passport in respect of MP Prajwal Revanna. It is being processed,” said one of the persons, who did not wish to be identified.

    Revanna, who is seeking re-election to the Lok Sabha from Hassan as NDA candidate, left the country a day after the April 26 polls using a diplomatic passport.With pressure mounting to nab absconding Revanna, who is wanted in cases of alleged sexual abuse of women, the Karnataka government wrote to the external affairs ministry seeking a cancellation of his diplomatic passport on the basis of an arrest warrant.AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther StatesThe external affairs ministry had earlier said that a passport could be revoked if a requisite judicial order was obtained in this regard from a court. “As far as the matter of revoking a diplomatic passport of a person is concerned, it comes under the Passport Act of 1967. And as per its provisions, a direction should come from the court. Only then it can be revoked,” the ministry’s official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said earlier this month.Earlier on Wednesday, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah wrote a second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to take “prompt and necessary” action to cancel Revanna’s diplomatic passport and help the state government secure his return to the country. “It is disheartening that my previous letter raising similar concerns on the issue has not, to the best of my knowledge, been acted upon despite the gravity of the situation,” the CM said in a two-page letter.

  • 700 students face deportation from Canada; Punjab government seeks Centre’s intervention

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldip Singh Dhaliwal Tuesday sought intervention of External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar in the matter of 700 Indian students facing deportation from Canada.

    In a letter to Jaishankar, Dhaliwal also sought time to meet him over the issue.

    As many as 700 Indian students, mostly from Punjab, are facing deportation from Canada after the authorities in that country found ‘admission offer letters’ to educational institutions to be fake.

    The matter came to light in March when these students applied for permanent residency in Canada.

    “I have also sought time to meet EAM so that the whole matter can be brought to the attention of the GOI personally,” Dhaliwal said.

    In the letter to the EAM, Dhaliwal said, “These (700) students are innocent and have been cheated by the clique of fraudsters.” 

    “I shall be highly grateful if you again look into the matter personally and take up the matter with concerned agencies including High Commission of Canada and government of Canada so that these students can be saved from being deported,” wrote Dhaliwal.

    These students should not be deported and given work permits considering their visas, he said.

    Dhaliwal also appealed to the people of Punjab that before going abroad or sending their children for studies, the details of the college and the record of the travel agent must be checked.

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldip Singh Dhaliwal Tuesday sought intervention of External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar in the matter of 700 Indian students facing deportation from Canada.

    In a letter to Jaishankar, Dhaliwal also sought time to meet him over the issue.

    As many as 700 Indian students, mostly from Punjab, are facing deportation from Canada after the authorities in that country found ‘admission offer letters’ to educational institutions to be fake.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The matter came to light in March when these students applied for permanent residency in Canada.

    “I have also sought time to meet EAM so that the whole matter can be brought to the attention of the GOI personally,” Dhaliwal said.

    In the letter to the EAM, Dhaliwal said, “These (700) students are innocent and have been cheated by the clique of fraudsters.” 

    “I shall be highly grateful if you again look into the matter personally and take up the matter with concerned agencies including High Commission of Canada and government of Canada so that these students can be saved from being deported,” wrote Dhaliwal.

    These students should not be deported and given work permits considering their visas, he said.

    Dhaliwal also appealed to the people of Punjab that before going abroad or sending their children for studies, the details of the college and the record of the travel agent must be checked.

  • Indian Foreign Service has changed, it defends national interest: S Jaishankar slams Rahul Gandhi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: In a sharp retort to Rahul Gandhi on his comments quoting unnamed European bureaucrats that the Indian Foreign Service has completely changed and become arrogant, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said it is called defending national interest.

    Yes, the Indian Foreign Service has changed.Yes, they follow the orders of the Government.Yes, they counter the arguments of others.No, its not called Arrogance.It is called Confidence.And it is called defending National Interest. pic.twitter.com/eYynoKZDoW
    — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 21, 2022
    Reacting to the Congress leader’s remarks, Jaishankar tweeted that the change in the Indian Foreign Service is a reflection of confidence. “Yes, the Indian Foreign Service has changed. Yes, they follow the orders of the Government. Yes, they counter the arguments of others. ‘No, it’s not called Arrogance. It is called Confidence. And it is called defending National Interest (sic),” Jaishankar said.

    At the ‘Ideas for India’ conference in London, Gandhi slammed the BJP government at the Centre on multiple fronts and alleged that the “deep state” in India is attacking institutions and capturing them.

    In the interactive session, Gandhi also criticised the Indian Foreign Service. “I was talking to some bureaucrats from Europe and they were saying that the Indian foreign service has completely changed, they do not listen to anything. They are arrogant…There is no conversation,” he said.

  • Jammu & Kashmir delimitation exercise: India rejects Pakistan Assembly’s ‘farcical resolution’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday described as “farcical” a resolution passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan on the delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the neighbouring country has no locus standi to interfere in internal matters of India.

    External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi categorically rejected the resolution and asked Islamabad to stop cross-border terrorism and shut down its “infrastructure of terrorism”. “We categorically reject the farcical resolution passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan on the subject of the delimitation exercise in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has no locus standi to pronounce on or interfere in matters that are internal to India, including the Indian territories under Pakistan’s illegal and forcible occupation,” he said.

    The spokesperson was responding to media queries regarding the resolution passed by the Pakistan National Assembly. “It is regrettable that instead of putting their own house in order, the leadership in Pakistan continues to interfere in India’s internal affairs and engage in baseless and provocative anti-India propaganda,” he said.

    Bagchi said the entire territory of the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh “have been, is and shall always remain an integral part of India”. “The delimitation exercise in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is a democratic exercise based on principles of extensive stakeholder consultation and participation,” he said.

    Bagchi asked Pakistan to refrain from effecting any further material changes in the status of Pakistan occupied Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh (PoJKL) and vacate the Indian territories that are under its “illegal and forcible occupation”.

    “We reiterate that Pakistan must immediately cease anti-India cross-border terrorism and shut down its infrastructure of terrorism; stop the grave and persistent human rights violations in Pakistan occupied Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh (PoJKL); refrain from effecting any further material changes in the status of PoJKL, and vacate Indian territories that are under its illegal and forcible occupation,” Bagchi said.

  • 1988-batch IFS officer Vinay Mohan Kwatra takes charge as new External Affairs secretary

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Seasoned diplomat Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Sunday took charge as India’s new External Affairs secretary at a time New Delhi is dealing with various geopolitical developments including the crisis in Ukraine.

    A 1988-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, Kwatra succeeded Harsh Vardhan Shringla who retired from service on Saturday. Kwatra was serving as India’s envoy to Nepal before assuming the charge of the foreign secretary.

    Shri Vinay Kwatra assumed charge as Foreign Secretary today morning. #TeamMEA wishes Foreign Secretary Kwatra a productive and successful tenure ahead. pic.twitter.com/fiNvBwIpNg
    — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) May 1, 2022
    “Shri Vinay Kwatra assumed charge as Foreign Secretary today morning. #TeamMEA wishes Foreign Secretary Kwatra a productive and successful tenure ahead,” MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted on Sunday.

    Kwatra is known to be having extensive expertise in dealing with India’s neighbourhood as well as the US, China and Europe.

    He took charge as the foreign secretary at a time India is dealing with various geopolitical developments including the Ukraine conflict, the severe economic crisis in Sri Lanka and situation in Afghanistan and developments in the Indo-Pacific.

    Before his diplomatic posting to Nepal in 2020, he served as the Ambassador of India to France from August 2017 to February 2020. A career diplomat with over 32 years of experience, Kwatra has also held the position of a Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for two years between October 2015 and August 2017.

    Kwatra headed the Policy Planning & Research Division of the Ministry of External Affairs between July 2013 and October 2015 and later served as the head of the Americas Division in the Foreign Ministry where he dealt with India’s relations with the US and Canada.

  • Looking at keeping economic ties with Russia stable: External Affairs Ministry

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Thursday reiterated that it has been looking at keeping its economic ties with Russia stable and that it procures “very little” Russian crude oil. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said this when asked at a media briefing about reports that India is buying more Russian crude oil.

    Bagchi said that India’s position on Russia has been “clear and steadfast”. “We are looking at how to keep our economic relations stable…We procure very little oil from Russia.It is not done on a government-to-government basis,” he said.

    Bagchi also said that he was not aware whether India’s procurement of crude oil from Russia has increased or not. He said that India had a very good conversation with the US on the matter. There has been some disquiet in the western countries over India’s position on the Ukraine crisis as well as its decision to procure discounted Russian oil.

  • External Affairs Ministry condemns US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s visit to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Thursday condemned the visit of US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), saying her travel to the region violated the country’s sovereignty and it reflected her “narrow-minded” politics.

    At a media briefing, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi criticised Omar for visiting the PoK. The US Congresswoman, who is a Democrat, is currently on a four-day visit to Pakistan. “We have noted that US representative Ilhan Omar has visited a part of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir that is currently illegally occupied by Pakistan,” he said.

    “If such a politician wishes to practice her narrow-minded politics at home, that may be her business. But violating our territorial integrity and sovereignty in its pursuit makes it ours. This visit is condemnable,” Bagchi added.

    He was asked to comment on Omar’s visit to PoK. She is the first American lawmaker to visit Pakistan after the ouster of Imran Khan as prime minister of the country. To another query on recent terror attacks in Afghanistan, the spokesperson said India has been looking at the developments in that country.

    “We have seen some of the terrorist attacks. We have always been forthright in our condemnation of terrorist attacks. We are looking at what has been the developments there. But let me emphasise that we certainly condemn all terrorist attacks,” Bagchi said.

  • Country’s national security ‘unpardonably compromised’: Rahul Gandhi slams Centre for China strategy

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday slammed the Centre over the border row with China and alleged that the country’s national security is “unpardonably compromised” as the government does not have a strategy on China.

    Our national security is unpardonably compromised because GOI has no strategy and Mr 56” is scared.My thoughts are with the soldiers risking their lives to guard our borders while GOI churns out lies. pic.twitter.com/F0iEHXdu8o
    — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 12, 2021
    He also cited a news report where the External Affairs Ministry and the Chief of Defence Staff had a different take on the China border issue. The headline of the news report reads: “Chief of Defence Staff, Foreign Ministry’s different take on China row”.

    “Our national security is unpardonably compromised because GOI has no strategy and ‘Mr 56’ is scared. My thoughts are with the soldiers risking their lives to guard our borders while GOI churns out lies,” the Congress leader said in a tweet.

    Three major friction points had emerged between the two countries including both the banks of Pangong lake, Gogra heights and the Hot Springs area following Chinese build up along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.

    Through multiple rounds of talks, both sides have resolved issues involving Pangong Tso and Gogra heights friction points as troops have disengaged from there. India and China held the 13th round of the India-China Corps Commander-level meeting earlier this month.

    India conveyed that it expects the Chinese side to work towards early resolution of all the remaining issues on the LAC in eastern Ladakh. There was a clash between Indian and Chinese Armies in Galwan Valley on June 15 last year, in which 20 Indian soldiers and an unspecified number of Chinese soldiers lost their lives.

  • India supports WHO’s call for detailed studies on origins of coronavirus: External Affairs Ministry

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India on Friday supported renewed global calls for a comprehensive investigation by the WHO into the origins of COVID-19, days after US President Joe Biden asked American intelligence agencies to find out how coronavirus emerged in China.

    There were growing demands by a sizeable number of countries including the US and Australia to investigate whether the virus originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 from an animal source or from a laboratory accident in December 2019 In March, the World Health Organisation (WHO) came out with a report on the origins of the virus but it had failed to meet the expectations of the US and several other leading countries.

    External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the follow up of the WHO report and further studies deserve the understanding and cooperation of all.

    “The WHO convened global study on the origin of COVID-19 is an important first step.

    It stressed the need for next phase studies as also for further data and studies to reach robust conclusions,” he said.

    Bagchi was responding to media queries on the issue.

    “The follow up of the WHO report and further studies deserve the understanding and cooperation of all,” he said.

    During the probe by the WHO earlier this year, the US and several other countries expressed concerns over Chinese authorities not providing complete data to the WHO team probing the origin of the virus.

    President Biden had on Wednesday ordered the US intelligence agencies to “redouble” their efforts in investigating the emergence of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and report back to him in 90 days.

    “I have now asked the intelligence community to redouble their efforts to collect and analyse information that could bring us closer to a definitive conclusion, and to report back to me in 90 days,” Biden had said.

    “As part of that report, I have asked for areas of further inquiry that may be required, including specific questions for China.

    I have also asked that this effort include work by our national labs and other agencies of our government to augment the intelligence community’s efforts,” the US president had said.

  • ‘It is travesty of justice’: India on Pakistan court’s order to release Omar Saeed Sheikh

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: With Pakistan Supreme Court ordering release of Omar Saeed Sheikh, the prime suspect in the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl, India on Thursday said it is a travesty of justice not to find him guilty of any charge in the heinous act of terror.

    The Pakistan Supreme Court has ordered the release of Sheikh while dismissing an appeal against his acquittal in the sensational kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl in 2002.

    External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the case truly demonstrates Pakistan’s intent on tackling terrorism.

    “I had mentioned earlier about the very low conviction rate in Pakistan when it comes to sentencing of terror accused. This case truly demonstrates Pakistan’s intent on taking action on terror front,” he said at a media briefing when asked about the order by Pakistan Supreme Court.

    “It is a travesty of justice not to find Omar Saeed guilty of any charge in this heinous act of terror,” Srivastava said.

    “Our position on Pakistan taking sustained, verifiable, credible and irreversible action against terrorism and terrorist funding emanating from all territory under its control remain unchanged,” he said.

    Sheikh is one of three terrorists released by India in 1999 in exchange for nearly 150 passengers of a hijacked airliner.

    Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story in 2002 on the links between the country’s powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda.

    Sheikh and his three aides — Fahad Naseem, Sheikh Adil and Salman Saqib — were convicted and sentenced in the abduction and murder of Pearl in Karachi in 2002.

    A three-judge bench of the apex court led by Justice Mushir Alam dismissed the Sindh government’s appeal against the Sindh High Court’s decision to overturn the conviction of Sheikh in the Pearl murder case.

    The beheading of the American journalist in 2002 had grabbed international headlines.