By Amlendu Bhushan Khan
New Delhi: Ministry of External Affairs had facilitated over 14 lakh crore worth economic activities till February 2018 by pushing all the flagship programmes of Narendra Modi led NDA government like “Clean India” “Digital India” “Skill India”, “Start Up India”. Programmes on International Solar Energy which was led by India had today 65 countries as its members. India was also making use of its soft power like `Yoga’ to extend its international influence and connectivity said the Union minister of external affairs Sushma Swaraj here.
“Till four years ago there were only 77 passport offices in the entire country. Today there are 227 passport offices, amounting to 3 times increase. This was one of the many unprecedented accomplishments of the external affairs ministry in just the four years of NDA regime” said Sushma Swaraj.
She pointed out that in the whole of north-east region there was only one passport office situated in Guwahati. “People from Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland also had to come to Guwahati to get their passports made.” In four years her ministry had ensured that every state in the north-east region has its own passport office now.
Flanked by here two deputies minister of state in MEA general V K Singh and MOS M J Akbar, Swaraj officially released the achievements of the government at the annual press briefing today. Handling all the questions posed by the media deftly, she also put to rest the view that it was not she but prime minister Narendra Modi who ran the show of the ministry. “If I knew nothing about the ministry then how I am answering all the questions asked by you,’’ she quizzed in response to a loaded question suggesting she was left only with the twitter handle.
The twitter she said had helped her outreach with the people. In fact she said she was able keep all here ambassador posted in different countries on their toes. This she said had helped in rescuing and assisting many Indian’s trapped in difficult situations in foreign countries.
She recalled that when she became external affairs minister she had found there were many countries where no Indian leader or official had even visited/ However in just short span of time, of the 193 countries as listed in the United Nations, India had established formal rapport with 186 countries which is no mean achievement, Swaraj asserted.
On specific question with regard to dialogue with Pakistan, Swaraj said there was no possibility of any bilateral dialogue as long as Pakistan supported terrorism. “We are always ready for talks with Pakistan… with the caveat that terror and talks cannot go together.”
“Jab seema par janaze uth rahe hon, to baatcheet ki awaaz acchi nahi lagti (when people are dying on the border, dialogue is not appropriate)”, Sushma Swaraj asserted. She however added dialogue on terror could take place at the National Security Advisor level
Regarding Vijay Mallya’s extradition, she said the British court where the case of extradition has been won, wants to inspect the conditions of the prison in India. During the Commonwealth Summit when Prime Minister Modi had met the British Prime Minister Theresa May he had raised the Mallya issue and British court wanting to inspect the prison in India. The PM, she said had told her that “It was the same prison where Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders were kept.”
With regard to India’s relation with Iran in view of United States re-imposing sanction on Iran, Swaraj said “India recognises UN section and not any country specific sanction.”
She also denied that India’s foreign policy was ever dictated by any external pressure from anywhere.
About relations with Bangladesh over the Tista river water issue, she said central government and Bangladesh alone cannot decide this issue as West Bengal state is a big stake holder in it. She said the government was working on an alternate plan which involved supply of water from three other rivers. A feasibility plan is being worked out by a specialised committee for this. The report of this committee is still awaited.
