Transcript of Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson on 12 September 2024
Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon friends. Let's begin the session. I open the floor for questions.
Umashankar: Umashankar Singh, NDTV India se. Videsh Mantri ka ek bayan Germany se sunne mei aaya hai ki Bharat aur China ke beech 75% jo vivad hai, woh suljha liya gaya hai. Mera sawal ye hai ki kya WMCC aur jo Corps Commander level ki batchit mei jo kuch bhi nikal ke aaya, usse jyada kuch naya nikal ke samne aaya hai, ya woh purani baat ko hi refer kar rahe the ki 75% issue suljha liye gaye hain?
[Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] Umashankar Singh from NDTV India. We have heard a statement from External Affairs Minister in Germany that 75% of the dispute between India and China has been resolved. My question is whether there have been any new developments beyond what came out during the WMCC and the Corps Commander talks, or was he referring to the earlier talks that 75% of the issue has been resolved?
Bramh Prakash: Main Bramh Prakash Dubey News India se. Mera sawal ye hai ki Rahul Gandhi ne jis tarah se China ko lekar kaha hai ki China Delhi ke kshetrafal ke barabar jo hai Bharat ki jameen par kabja kiye hue hai Ladakh ko lekar. Rahul Gandhi saansad hain, vipaksh ke neta hain, toh Videsh Mantralaya isko lekar kya sochta hai, kya baat rakhna chahta hai, kyuki unhone ye baat puri duniya ko batai hai ki hamare itne area par kabja kiye hue hai China. Kya sahi hai? Thank you.
[Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] I am Bramh Prakash Dubey from News India. My question is regarding Rahul Gandhi's statement about China, wherein he said that China has occupied Indian territory equivalent to the area of Delhi, in Ladakh. Rahul Gandhi is a Member of Parliament and the Leader of Opposition. What does the Ministry of External Affairs think about this? What is the Ministry's stance, considering he has made this statement to the entire world, claiming that China has occupied such a large area of our land? Is this true? Thank you.
Niraj: Sir Niraj, News18 India se. Hamara sawal hai Russian army mei bharti Bhartiyon ko lekar, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi ke daure ke dauran is masle ko Bharat ki taraf se uthaya gaya tha, ab tak kitne logon ki wapsi hui hai, aur kitne log abhi bhi Russian army mei fase hue hain? Aur ye kin-kin rajyon se hain?
[Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] Sir, this is Niraj from News18 India. My question is regarding the Indians who were recruited into the Russian army. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, this issue was raised by India. How many people have returned so far, and how many are still stuck in the Russian army? Also, from which states are these individuals?
Rishabh: Sir good evening. Rishabh from Times Now. Sir there are reports that the Indians who went to Israel for construction work, there have been issues with them. Has there been any official communication between India and Israel regarding the condition and working standards of the Indians who are there, who have went under agreement between India and Israel?
Huma: Sir, I'm Huma Siddiqui from the Financial Express. Sir there are reports that an Indian origin Israeli soldier killed amid escalating tensions in the West Bank. So anything on that? I mean, who is this person? Is he Indian or he was born there or he has gone there?
Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Umashankar aapka sawal Bharat-China rishton ko lekar hai. Bharat-China rishton ke upar Videsh Mantri ne haal hi ke din Dehli mei aur phir Berlin mein kuch din pehle, ek din pahle baat ki hai. Uske alawa hum logo ne, jo hamari batchit chal rahi hai, China ke sath, WMCC ke tahat, uske baare mei hum logon ne awgat karaya hai aapko. Toh Videsh Mantri ji ne jo kaha hai aur jo hum log abhi tak kehte aaye hain is manch se aur WMCC ke madhyam se, wahi hai jo stithi hamari China aur Bharat ke rishton ki sthiti hai, isse jyada hum log kuch…
[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] Umashankar, your question is regarding India-China relations. External Affairs Minister has recently spoken about India-China relations, in Delhi a few days ago and then again in Berlin recently. Besides, we have apprised you of our ongoing discussions with China under the WMCC. What the External Affairs Minister has said, and what we have conveyed from this platform and through the WMCC, remains our position regarding the state of India-China relations.
Yeshi: Sir, in English.
Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: See on India-China relations, External Affairs Minister has spoken about it on several occasions including recently in Berlin. Also he had spoken here when he attended the Economic Times event. We have also been keeping you informed of the developments that have happened in our talks with WMCC, in that mechanism. So that is where the India-China relations are, at this present time.
Aapka bhi sawal ka jawab yahi hai, ki hamari jo baatain chal rahi hain, China ke sath jo rishtey ki baat chal rahi hain, uspe Videsh Mantri ne kaha hai pichle kuch dinon mei, Berlin mei bhi kaha hain, aur hum logon ne bhi is Press Conference ke madhyam se aapko avgat karaya hai hamare rishton ke baare mei.
[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] The answer to your question is the same, External Affairs Minister has spoken, a few days ago and also in Berlin, on the discussions we are having with China regarding our relationship. We have also informed you about our relationship through this Press Conference.
Niraj, Russia…aapko samay-samay par hum log avgat karate aa rahe hain, ki kitne log hamare wahan par, Russian army mei jo Bhartiya hain unko riha karaya ja raha hai. Toh Pradhan Mantri July mei jab Russia ke daure par gaye hain, toh wahan par unhone bhi is mudde ko uthaya Rashtrapati Putin se, aur tab se 35 log Bhartiya nagrik, jo Russian sena mei bharti the unko riha karaya gaya hai. Usse pahle 10 aur log the jinko ki riha karaya gaya tha, discharge ho gaye the. Toh kul milakar 45 log jo hai woh hamare nagrik jo hain, unko Russian fauj se riha kar diya gaya hai. Unmai se 6 log, aapko jaisi ki pata hoga, 6 log, 2 din pahle Bharat wapas aaye the. Unke aane ka intezam Bharatiya dutawas ne kiya tha, aur kuch aur log hain jo wahan par aanewale dinon mei jald hi wapas aayenge. Aur jahan tak aapka sawal tha kin rajyon se hain, toh ye jo log hain, 45 log, wo alag-alag rajyon se hain, koi uttar se hai, koi dakshin se hai, alag-alag rajyon se hain. Toh kul milakar 45 logon ko riha kar diya gaya hai, aur hum logon ka manna hai ki pachas ek log aur hain jo ki wahan par abhi Russian sena mein hain, jinke discharge ke liye hum log lagatar Russian sarkar se, Russian authorities se batchit hamari chal rahi hai.
[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] Niraj, Russia…we have been informing you from time to time about the number of Indians being discharged from the Russian army. When Prime Minister visited Russia in July, he raised this issue with President Putin. Since then, 35 Indian citizens who were recruited into the Russian army have been discharged. Prior to that, 10 individuals had already been discharged. So in total our 45 citizens have been discharged from the Russian army. Out of these, as you might know, 6 people returned to India two days ago, and the Indian Embassy facilitated their return. There are others who are expected to come back in the coming days. As far as your question regarding which states they are from is concerned, these 45 individuals are from different states, some from the north, some from the south, from different states. In total, 45 people have been discharged, and we believe that around 50 more Indians are still with the Russian army. We are continuously in talks with the Russian government and Russian authorities for their discharge.
So, this particular issue of Indian nationals who've been recruited in the Russian army and they want to be released, we have taken up this matter with the Russian side. We have been informing you of the developments. In July, when our Prime Minister travelled to Russia, he also took up the matter with President Putin. And since Prime Minister's visit, 35 Indian nationals have been discharged. Prior to that, prior to July, his visit, 10 Indian nationals had been discharged. So, 45 Indian nationals have been discharged so far. Several of them have come back. Six of them came back two days ago and several others would be shortly coming back. There are 50 odd Indian nationals who are still with the Russian army for whom we are trying our best to get them discharged as early as possible. So, that is the situation.
Huma, on your question, as I was coming into the Press Conference, I read a report that an Israeli national of Indian origin has died. We will get more details. You also have the same details which I have, but if you want more on that account… but what I have been told is that he is an Israeli national. So, that is what I have been able to gather from our people.
Rishabh, your question regarding the Indian workers who have travelled, we have seen some reports which came out recently. Under the G2G agreement, 4,800 Indian workers have travelled to Israel in recent months and as per information that has been provided to us by the Israeli side, most of the Israeli companies are satisfied with the working of Indian workers. I would also like to let you know that the recruitment process of these Indian workers who travel to Israel, their testing of skills, their suitability, all this is decided by the Israeli side themselves. Their agency PIBA, which came here for the recruitment, looked at all these issues. Further, when Indian workers travel to Israel, they also have to undergo pre-induction training. They also have to undergo some professional tests so that they are able to undertake their professional requirements. We are given to understand that some Indian workers faced some language issues, some communication issues and some related matters; but we understand that these have now been resolved. And these are teething issues which happen when you have a new initiative, but this is our understanding and as per our information that those initial issues, teething issues have now been resolved. I would like to also point you out to the detailed response which has been put out by the National Skills Development Corporation on this issue; as also the Israeli Embassy has put out or responded to this matter, so if you look at that. Since we are referring to a particular media report, I would like to say here and clarify that this particular media report mentions that B2B arrangement is being overseen by MEA. This is factually not correct. Overall, Indian workers are satisfied and the Israeli companies are satisfied with this arrangement.
Yeshi: Yeshi Seli from the New Indian Express. This question is on Bangladesh. Our High Commissioner in Dhaka met the Adviser on Commerce and Trade. Is there any hope of revival of trade between India and Bangladesh and the projects that India had sought to establish? Also, is there any official communiqué on Quad being swapped by the U.S., and will India host it next year?
Pranay: Sir Bangladesh ki purva Pradhan Mantri Sheikh Hasina ko ek mahine se jyada ka waqt Bharat mei ho chuka hai aur Bangladesh se jo reports aayi hain usmai woh extradition ki baat kai baar wahan ke kai officials ki taraf se ki gayi hai. Kya Bharat ke paas mei koi official ya note verbal ya koi aisa communication mila hai is sandarbh mei? Aur Sheikh Hasina ka offical status kya hai? Kya political asylum ka status hai unka ya kuch move kiya hai? Aur ek clarification ki woh kitne samay tak Bharat mei rah sakti hain, isko lekar koi diplomatic limitations hain kya?
[Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] Sir, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has been in India for more than a month, and there have been reports from Bangladesh regarding discussions about extradition by some officials there. Has India received any official communication, note verbal in this regard? Also, what is Sheikh Hasina's official status? Does she have status of political asylum, or has any such move been made? And a clarification, how long can she stay in India? Are there any diplomatic limitations regarding this?
Pia: Sir, Pia with the Print. Earlier this week, the Chinese state-run media outlet Global Times published an op-ed titled ‘India's diplomacy has a Jaishankar problem’ and it made a lot of accusations against India's Foreign Minister, including that he has negatively impacted reconciliation efforts between the two countries. They then took down this op-ed. Does the Ministry have any comment on this?
Neeraj: Sir Namaskar, main Neeraj Dubey, Prabhasakshi se. Mera sawal Jammu Kashmir Vidhan Sabha chunav ko lekar hai. Sir, UK mei kuch sangthanon ne Bharat ke khilaf dusprachar karte hue kuch aarop bhi lagaye, Pakistani agenda ko aage badhaya, jiske jawab mei Bhartiya samuday ne bhi wahan pe pradershan kiya hai, London mei. Toh abhi kyuki samay hai, prachar chal raha hai, toh Pakistan ki taraf se is tarah ke dushprachar aur chalaye jayenge, Bharat sarkar ka kya kehna hai Sir is dusprachar abhiyan par?
[Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] Sir, Namaskar, I am Neeraj Dubey from Prabhasakshi. My question is regarding the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. In the UK, some organizations have been spreading propaganda against India, making accusations and promoting Pakistani agenda. In response, the Indian community also held a protest there in London. Since there is some time in elections, campaign is ongoing, so there will likely be more propaganda from Pakistan, what has the Indian government to say on this propaganda campaign?
Kallol: Sir, Kallol from the Hindu. My question is regarding the Adani project in Godda, because there are reports both from here as well as from Bangladesh indicating that the Government of Bangladesh is going to review the Godda Power project. Do you think the Government of Bangladesh is within its rights to review the project with the Adani Group? And also, do you think that would be a violation of certain understandings between the Government of India as well as the Government of Bangladesh?
Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Yeshi, your question regarding trade and commerce. See, trade and commerce have started with Bangladesh. Trucks are plying between the two countries carrying essential commodities and whatever else that is being traded between India and Bangladesh. We had given you details about our High Commissioner calling on…when he made the introductory call on the Chief Adviser and he discussed issues of mutual interest, where he conveyed that India will continue to work with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of the people of both countries for prosperity, security and development. So that is how we are approaching our engagement with Bangladesh.
On the projects part, I had informed you earlier as well that several of the projects have been impacted because of the situation in Bangladesh. Right now, they have been disrupted and these projects will recommence when the security situation in Bangladesh permits our personnel, who are working on those projects, and they can return and they can resume work. There was also, last time, a question on the friendship pipeline project. That of course project, it is between Numaligarh to Parbatipur in Bangladesh through which we are supplying high speed diesel. This project is in operation since March of 2023. There are some added issues in regard to this friendship project, extension of the pipeline on which we have made some proposal to Bangladesh and we await their comeback on it.
On Quad, I am given to understand that there will be an announcement in this regard later this evening. So please do watch out for what is being put out. You will get the answer. An official announcement is expected soon. That is what I understand.
Pranay aapka sawal pratyarpan ko lekar hai; dekhiye is mamle pe, extradition pe, pratyarpan pe hum logon ne pahle bhi kaha hai ki ye jo sawal hai, ye hypothetical sa sawal hai, abhi ke sandardh mei. Toh hamne pichle bhi Presser mei, aur usse pahle bhi is baat par aap logon ki najar maine aakarshit kiya tha. Toh ye pratyarpan ka sawal jo hai hamari najar mei abhi… aur hum log is prakar ke sawal ka jawab nahi dete hain, ye practice hamara nahi hai ki hypothetical questions ka hum jawab de. Aur jahan tak status ki baat kahi aapne, dekhiye jo purva Pradhan Mantri jo Bangladesh ki, wo aayi thi hamare yahan, ek sandarbh mei aayi thi, short notice par, apne safety ko lekar waha par aayi thi, iske aage mere paas kuch aur aapko jankari dene ke liye nahi hain.
[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] Pranay, your question is about extradition. Look, on this matter, we've said earlier also that this is a hypothetical question in the current context. I had drawn your attention to this in previous Press Conferences as well. So, as of now, this question of extradition, in our view, is hypothetical; and we don’t answer such questions, it is not our practice to respond to such hypothetical questions. Regarding the status, which you mentioned, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh came here under specific circumstances, on short notice, and for her safety. Beyond that, I don't have any further information to provide.
Pia, your question was regarding the Global Times story. On that, see…as far as India-China relations are concerned, our External Affairs Minister has spoken on it on several occasions, recently as well, including he has spoken about these ties when he was in Berlin yesterday. I do not wish to add anything more to what he said.
Neeraj dekhiye dushprachar toh kisi bhi prakar ka ho woh acccha nahi hota hai. Toh koi bhi dushprachar hamare khilaf chal raha ho uska toh hum virodh karte hain. Jahan tak Bhartiya samuday ne London mei aapne kahan ki wahan par dushprachar ke khilaf unhone aawaj uthaya, acchi baat hai, Bhartiya samuday jo bahar reh rahe hain woh bhi chahte hain ki desh mei tarakki ho, desh sahi disha mei jaye aur koi bhi dushprachar hai uski toh humko ninda karni chahiye.
[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] Neeraj, any kind of propaganda is not good. So we oppose any propaganda being spread against us. As you mentioned, the Indian community in London raised their voices against such propaganda, which is a good thing. The Indian community living abroad also wants the country to progress and move in the right direction. We should condemn all kinds of propaganda.
Kallol, what you are referring to is a private project, it is bound by a buyer-seller agreement between two parties. One party which happens to be an Indian party and the other party happens to be a Bangladeshi party. It is for both these parties to decide what they want out of this arrangement, this agreement. It is a buyer-seller…it is a private engagement. So they will have to sit and sort out issues if they have in this particular engagement.
Mohammad Ghazali: Sir, our NSA is there in Russia for the BRICS NSA meet and is also reportedly meeting Mr. Putin there. Can you just like share some insights about what kind of peace plan or the message from the Prime Minister he is conveying there. Also he is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart as well. So some details about that if possible?
Manash: Sir, on Bangladesh. This is Manash from PTI. The head of Bangladesh's interim government, Muhammad Yunus recently made certain remarks. He said, Hasina's comments from India is a kind of unfriendly gesture and she must stay silent. He also said that India must move beyond the narrative that portrays every other political party except Awami League as an Islamist party. So these are pretty strong comments from Yunus, so how do you see these comments?
Siddhant: Sir, I want to know your view on Donald Lu's visit to India and then Bangladesh; and I also want to know that during his visit to India, are we going to discuss with him the scenarios going on in Bangladesh? Thank you.
Dhairya: Sir, good evening. Dhairya Maheshwari from Sputnik. Sir, my question also relates to the BRICS NSA meeting. Sir, would it be possible to get a sense of conversations on resolving or mediating the Ukraine conflict? Is there any sense of consensus or emerging consensus among BRICS partners on the way forward in mediating the conflict? And the second question is, Sir, we saw the statement put out by the Indian Embassy in Russia which said that the National Security Advisor stressed on the need for joint efforts to counter terrorism and online radicalization. To what extent was the situation in South Asia discussed? Sir this is in regards to recent surge in terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as there are also reports about…like there are reports that suggest that Daesh operators might be involved in recent train sabotage incidents in India. So like, were these issues discussed? Thank you Sir.
Aishwarya: Hi Sir, Aishwarya Iyer from CNN. So Panama recently deported 130 Indian irregular migrants under a repatriation deal between Panama and the United States. There has also been a consistent rise of the number of people who have been found at the borders by the US border patrolling forces over the years. So firstly, have they returned to India and if they have, have you initiated any investigation about the route they took, the purpose of the visit and whether it was illegal or not? Thank you.
Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay, Ghazali, first to your question, NSA's meeting with President Putin, you know, NSA is in St. Petersburg for BRICS NSA meeting. Yesterday, he participated in the deliberations there. We understand that there are several other bilateral meetings which will happen today as well. We do not have an exact readout; but as and when the meeting happens, we will put out something more so that you can read and understand the developments around the meetings.
Manash, look, our approach to Bangladesh, I have, earlier also and today as well, while answering Yeshi's question, I made it very clear that our High Commissioner had gone to call on the interim Chief Adviser, Head of the Interim Government and he had conveyed that India will continue to work with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of the people of both countries for prosperity, security and development. He had also conveyed our commitment to taking forward the relationship in accordance with our respective national priorities. So that is how approach to our ties with Bangladesh are at present.
Siddhant, Assistant Secretary Donald Lu is visiting India. He has several engagements, I understand. He is attending Ideas Summit Conference which is being organized by the US-India Business Council. On 16th, he will be attending the Inter-sessional meeting of the 2 plus 2, so 2 plus 2 format in which we have the External Affairs Minister and the Defence Minister, 2 plus 2 format. So this particular meeting is the Inter-sessional meeting which happens at the level of Joint Secretary. So he will be attending that meeting while he is in India. I do not have exact…he may travel to Bangladesh but I don’t know whether…
Siddhant: Will we discuss Bangladesh situation?
Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: This is an Inter-sessional meeting on the 2 plus 2 dialogue that we have…so the progress that we have achieved in several agenda points that we together have put.
Dhairya, again on BRICS NSA meeting, the meeting is in St. Petersburg, is going on right now and yesterday our National Security Advisor, he made a statement there as well which you would have seen. He spoke about countering terrorism, radicalization, etc. These are issues which are very critical not just for us but for the entire world. These are threats to humanity today and we take them seriously. We call upon the international community to strengthen fight against terrorism including cross border terrorism, radicalization. These things do not stand us in good stead and we must strengthen our commitment.
Aishwarya, regarding the movement of 130 odd Indians from Panama, see our position is very clear. We do not stand for illegal immigration. With these people, there may have been some issues, they have been sent back, we will be looking into those aspects. The number of people travelling, Indians travelling worldwide is huge, legally travelling. It is not in our interest where a minuscule number of people travel in a manner which is not in conformity with established practice and laws.
Huma: Sir, we have a tripartite agreement between India, Nepal, Bangladesh related to transit. What is the status of that?
Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Yes, you know, this particular tripartite agreement for supply of electricity was put in place sometime back. Exact functioning of it, technical details, etc.; I will not be able to give you an update, but my understanding is that this particular agreement is in motion, it is work in progress, but I will give you an update shortly after this meeting.
If we do not have any more questions, then thank you very much for your presence.
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