Swaraj was speaking to the press and took various quesitons.
On Sunday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held a press conference to commemorate two years of the government. During the discussion she answered a host of questions including India’s NSG bid, Vijay Mallya, ISIS, Donald Trump, Lalit Modi and Brexit.
Here are the highlights from her speech:
- Indian wants peaceful settlement of South China Sea dispute
- The ED has sent an extradition request for Vijay Mallya and the MEA team has suggested some changes in the request which has been sent to ED.
- While India’s engagement with the USA has increased, it wouldn’t be at the cost of the nation’s interests and India would protest against them if it was required.
- Incidents of violence against minorities in Bangladesh were unfortunate and the Bangladesh government is taking strong action against them.
- Difficult issues with Pakistan would be resolved and there was currently ‘ease and warmth’ in relations between the two countries.
- India hadn’t disregarded SAARC in its NSG bid.
- NIA hadn’t been denied permission to go to Pakistan and prove, and Pakistan has asked for more time to conduct a proper probe.
- Foreign Secretary-level talks between the neighbours hadn’t been cancelled.
- Govt is trying to ensure India is a member of NSG by the end of 2016.
- China is not protesting India’s NSG membership, it’s talking about criteria and that govt is confident China will back India.
- Not opposed to any country’s entrance into NSG on merit, including Pakistan.
- In 10 months, PM Modi covered UAE, Saudia Arabia, Iran and Qatar successfully for better ties.
- No Indian stranded anywhere in the world had been abandoned by the government and she didn’t know whether Father Tom had been killed by ISIS.
- The plan was to reach out to almost every country in the world with the help of state government and cabinet ministers and FDI couldn’t be brought in sitting at home. 140 countries had been contacted and the govt would reach out to 65 more.
- When India talks, the world listens today.
- It was up to Americans to decide whether they wanted to vote for Trump, and similarly it was Britains decision to decide on Brexit.
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