Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon dear friends. Let us begin this press conference. I will start with an announcement.
This is in regard to the visit of Prime Minister to Mauritius. On the invitation of the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will pay a state visit to Mauritius on March 11th and 12th, 2025 to attend the National Day celebrations of Mauritius which falls on 12th of March as the chief guest. A contingent of Indian Defense Forces will participate in the celebrations along with a ship from the Indian Navy.
Prime Minister last visited Mauritius in 2015. During the visit, Prime Minister will call on the President of Mauritius, meet with the Prime Minister of Mauritius and hold several other meetings with important dignitaries, senior leaders from the country. More in regard to the visit, we are issuing a press release. You will get more details from this document.
With that, I open the floor for questions.
Huma Siddiqui: Sir I am Huma Siddiqui. The Trump administration has talked about retaliatory tariffs. What is India's take on that?
Umashankar Singh, NDTV: Halanki ek press release aayi hain jo Israel ne 10 bhartiyon ko bachaya hain lekin kis paristhitiyon woh West Bank gaye hain, iske baare mei koi jankari mili hain?
[Approximate translation: Question in Hindi] Although a press release has come stating that Israel has saved 10 Indians, has there been any inquiry about the circumstances under which they went to the West Bank?
Sidhant, WION: Hi sir, Sidhant from WION. Sir, we have seen the statement of the MEA on what has happened in terms of the Khalistani extremists breaching the security of EAM's motorcade. So, what is your assessment in terms of how much is this a concern in terms of India-UK relationship, and have you conveyed the concerns with the UK authorities regarding what has happened to security breach?
Sahil Pandey, ANI: Sir, I am Sahil Pandey from ANI News Agency. A delegation from Bangladesh was in India for discussion regarding Ganga Water treaty this week. Can MEA provide details of the discussion?
Siddhant, CNN News 18: Hi, sir. I am Siddhant from CNN News 18. My question is also related to Bangladesh. Some new party, National Citizen Party, NCP, led by the student group Students Against Discrimination, has been formed. This indicates a possible rift with the caretaker government that is witnessing a chaotic internal security situation. How does India see this development?
Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay. I have five questions here. So, let me address them and then we come back for more.
First, Huma, regarding your questions on the announcement made by President Trump. We had earlier also addressed and put forward our point of view. And we had said that, and again, I would like to repeat that during Prime Minister's visit to the United States in last month, that is on February 2025, both sides had announced that they will engage and negotiate a mutually beneficial multi-sector bilateral trade agreement. You would have known that Commerce Minister was visiting the United States where he met his counterparts. The two governments are in the process of advancing discussions on a multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement. And as you would have seen in a joint statement also, I would like to repeat what we had mentioned there. Our objective through the BTA is to strengthen and deepen India-U.S. two-way trade across goods and services, increase market access, reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers, and deepen supply chain integration between the two countries. So, that is how we look at the issue of tariff as far as India-U.S. is concerned.
Umashankar, your question regarding Israel. See, 10 Indian … that is what we understand … 10 Indian workers, they were in the construction sector, they went missing. And after they had gone missing, the Israeli authorities tried to locate them. They were located in West Bank. From there, they have been traced, they have been got back to Israel. And this matter is being investigated for more details as to how they went etc. And our embassy is in touch with the Israeli authorities for the safety and for the well-being of these Indian nationals. So, as and when we have more update into the investigation being done, we will share more details with you. But these all 10 Indian nationals who had gone to West Bank, they are in Israel and they are being looked after.
[Response in Hindi]: Dekhiye 10 hamare bhartiya nagrik jo Israel mei construction sector mei kaam kar rahe the, kuch din se shayad unka pata nahi chal raha tha. toh dekha gaya ki woh West Bank mei kaam kar rahe hain. Wahan Israeli sarkar authorities ne wahan par unko dekha aur wahan se unko wapas laye Isreal mei. Aur ye masla kis tarike se gaye, kyu gaye, kya mansha thi is par investigation chal raha hain. Jo hamari wahan rajdutawaas hain woh Israeli sarkar ke sath is prasang mei lagatar baat kar rahi hain. Hamare ye jo 10 nagrik hain unke hit ke liye, unke well being ke liye aage jaisa bhi humko aur jankari milegi hum aapse sanjha karenge.
Sidhant on the issue of security breach that happened during the visit of External Affairs Minister to UK, yesterday, you would have seen that we had made a statement. I had made a statement in response to some of the queries from the media. I would like to again reiterate that we have conveyed a deep concern to the UK authorities about the breach of security arrangements by UK-based separatist and extremist elements during External Affairs Minister's visit. There is a larger context to the incident and it is important to understand that. It brings out both the license accorded to such forces, as well as indifference to their intimidation, threats and other actions aimed at impeding our legitimate diplomatic activities in the UK. While we have noted the statement issued by the UK Foreign Office on the matter, our view of its sincerity would depend on the action taken against culprits on this and previous occasions.
[Response in Hindi] : Videsh mantri ki suraksha mei lage sendh ko leke humne UK sarkar se apni gehri chinta jatai hain. Iske piche algavwadi aur ugrawadi log kahan the jo aap jante hain. Is ghatna ke piche ek sandarbh hain jisko samjhna bada jaruri hain. Is ghatna se ye pata chalta hain ki UK mei jo algavwadi tatva jo waha reh rahe hain usko ek prakar se aisa lagta hain ki unko license mila hua hain, de diya gaya hain ya aisa ho sakta hain ki wahan par jo log hain woh inki harkaton ko ya toh seriously nahi lete ya unko koi ferk nahi padta hain. Aur shayad inhi karan se unko undekha bhi karte hain. Yahi karan hain ki log dhamkane ke liye darane ki koshish karte hain aur is se hamari rajnaiek karya par badha aata hain aur badha dalne ki koshish karte hain. UK ke videsh vibhag ne ek kathan, yane statement jari kiya jisko hum logon ne dekha hain. Lekin kya woh is kathan mei kitna vishawas rakhte hain is baat ka tabhi pata chalega, iski pusthi hogi jab in ghatnaon ke piche jo doshi log hain, jo aaropi log hain unke khilaf uchit karyawahi ho, ya karenge.
Sahil your question is regarding Ganga Water Treaty. Recently the 86th meeting of the Ganga Water, this technical committee meeting took place in Kolkata happened on I think 6th of March. Such meetings … this is a regular routine technical meeting … such meetings happen thrice a year and it is part of the structured engagement of meetings that we have in place between both countries as part of the Ganga Water Treaty which was signed in 1996. At the meeting, the two sides discussed all matters related to Ganga Water Treaty including measurement of water flow and other issues of mutual interest on this particular subject.
Siddhant, your question was regarding the setting up of a party there as well as this deterioration in security situation. See our position, you know that we have, we support a stable, peaceful, inclusive and progressive Bangladesh in which all issues are resolved through democratic means and by holding inclusive and participatory elections. We remain concerned about the deteriorating law and order situation as you mentioned which has been further exacerbated by the release of violent extremists who were sentenced for serious crimes.
Sanjib Baruah, THE WEEK: Good afternoon. Sanjib Baruah from THE WEEK. I have this question. The Chinland Council and the Interim Chin National Consultative Council, they have signed the pact reportedly in the presence of the Mizoram Chief Minister. The political advisor to the Mizoram Chief Minister, who is also a legislator, has said that it was on the behest of the MEA that the CM made efforts to unite the factions. Is it so? What is the MEA's response to this?
Sudhi Ranjan, Bloomberg: Sir, Sudhi Ranjan from Bloomberg, sir. On the issue of the Commerce Minister being in U.S., sir, can you give us an understanding as to when he met his counterparts in America and has India got an assurance or any kind of an understanding that the reciprocal tariffs is not going to hit India on 2nd of April as threatened by President Trump? And secondly, sir, if I can ask a second question. If you could give us an understanding of Foreign Secretary's visit to Russia. Has the Ukraine war or the peace plans, various peace plans being discussed, has he been briefed on that?
Manish Jha, TV9 Bharatbarsh: Sir main Manish Jha hoon, TV9 Bharatvarsh se. Mera sawal Lalit Modi ko le kar hain. Lalit Modi ko Bharat wapas laane ko le kar MEA ka kya status hain? Aur doosri baat, kya Bharat sarkar ko iss baat ki jankari hain ki Lalit Modi ne videshi passport hasil kar liya hain aur iss se usko extradition me koi dikkat aayegi?
[Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, I am Manish Jha from TV9 Bharatvarsh. My question is regarding Lalit Modi. What is the MEA’s status on bringing Lalit Modi back to India? And secondly, does the Indian government have information that Lalit Modi has obtained a foreign passport, and will this create any issues in his extradition?
Akhilesh Suman, DD News: Sir main Akhilesh Suman, DD News ke lie. Tahavur Rana par U.S. ki court ne ek faisla diya hain. Unke extradition ki kya prakriya dekhne ja rahi hain aur uss decision ka kya details hain?
[Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, I am Akhilesh Suman from DD News. The U.S. court has given a decision on Tahawwur Rana. What is the process being considered for his extradition, and what are the details of that decision?
Suhasini Haidar, The Hindu: I have two follow-ups. I want your response on the India-U.S. bilateral free trade agreement being negotiated. The question is really that the Free Trade Agreement was announced and then after that the trade minister went there, the commerce minister went to Washington, and then after that the president has announced that there will be reciprocal tariffs. Would you consider these April 2nd tariffs to be an act of bad faith if you are in the middle of negotiations between India and the U.S. on a Bilateral Free Trade Agreement? So my first question really is, how do you see the announcement of the April 2 tariffs against India? And the second is on the Tahawwur Rana's question. President Trump on February 13th announced that we have taken a decision to send the Tahawwur Rana back. I presume that would have happened after all avenues of appeal have been exhausted and yet he has been allowed to put in another appeal in the Supreme Court in the U.S. yesterday where he has made a statement about possible torture and being killed in India. So, I just wanted to get a sense of how you see the fact that he has been able to have this appeal even after the president said he was to be sent back here.
Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay Sanjib, first your question regarding developments in Mizoram. We have seen several reports on this matter. On Myanmar, you know our position is very clear to you and to all our friends here. I would also like to reiterate that when it comes to foreign policy issues, these issues do not lie within the remit of State Governments.
Sudhi, on the Commerce Minister's visit, the Commerce Minister visited the United States from 4th to 6th. I don't have the complete details of his engagements, but he did meet his counterparts to take forward our mutual discussions on trade tariff and other issues and I just gave you what is our approach to bilateral trade agreement and he was there. These issues have been discussed and we'll see more in the coming days in the direction that it goes. Both sides are keen to take these discussions on Bilateral Trade Agreement, advancing these discussions further on a multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement. Over and above, I don't have those details. Technical details of the meetings will be shared by the relevant ministry when time is appropriate.
Regarding Foreign Secretary's visit, Foreign Secretary is visiting Moscow for Foreign Office Consultations. When you have Foreign Office Consultations between two countries, all aspects of the relationship, political relations, economic matters, other issues, defense, energy, partnership, all these matters are discussed, and the meeting is going on in Moscow. So hopefully once the meeting finishes, we'll have more details but just to tell you that he has gone there as part of Foreign Office Consultation. This is a routine consultation that we have. Last Foreign Office Consultations were held here in Delhi in 2023, towards the end of 2023. If my memory serves me right, I think it was in November of 2023.
On Manish, aapka sawal Lalit Modi ko le kar hain. Lalit Modi ne humare High Commission me ek application daayar kiya hain Indian passport ko surrender karne ke liye. Ye jo unki application aayi hain, usko jo vidhivat jo tareeka hain, jo guidelines hain, humare kanoon hain, uske hisaab se jo rules hain, uske hisaab se usko aage liya jayega. Humare sangyan me ye bhi hain ki Lalit Modi ne Vanuatu ki nagarikta le li hain. Itna kehne ke saath, main yeh kehna chahta hoon ki uske jo cases hain, usko hum log pursue kar rahe hain jo kanoon ke antargat mei hain.
[Response in English] It is learnt that Mr. Lalit Modi has made an application for surrender of his passport at the High Commission of India in London. The same will be examined in light of extant rules and procedures. We are also given to understand that he has acquired citizenship of Vanuatu. We continue to pursue the case against him as required under law.
Akhilesh ji, aapka sawal Tahawwur Rana ko le ke hai. Jaisa ki maine pehle bhi kaha tha, iss case pe aapne dekha hoga President Trump ka bayan jo hum log waha pe the Pradhan Mantri ke daure ke dauran Washington D.C. me. Uske alawa joint statement me bhi uski charcha hui ki Tahawwur Rana jald se jald wapas aayenge. Hum Ameriki sarkar ke saath kaam kar rahe hain, jo unki formalities hain, formalities ko dhyan me rakh ke aage kaam kar rahe hain taki unko yaha par laya jaye. Unka pratyarpan waha se ho, extradition ho.
[Response in English]: You would have seen President Trump's comments regarding the extradition of Tahawwur Rana. The Joint Statement which was adopted during the visit of the Prime Minister also reflects this sentiment. We are working closely with the U.S. government to complete the necessary formalities to allow for his extradition to India. So that is where it is. There are certain legalities in the United States for which I cannot answer but those also have to be taken care of. But our understanding is that we are working with the U.S. government, and his extradition should happen.
Suhasini, both on bilateral trade agreement beyond what I have said, I have nothing further to add to what we have said that commerce minister recently visited. He had discussions with his counterpart and as was provided in the Joint Statement adopted during the visit of the Prime Minister, both sides announced their plans to negotiate mutually beneficial multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement and the objective of this trade agreement is to deepen two-way trade across goods and services, increase market access, reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers and deepen supply chain integration between the two countries. So that is where it is. When we have more details on this particular issue, we will share with you.
On the Tahawwur Rana case, I answered what the position is. Can we have more questions?
Rishabh Madhavendra Pratap, Times Now: Good evening, sir. Rishabh from Times Now. Sir, Touhid Hossain, the foreign advisor to the interim government of Bangladesh has said that the issues with minority is an internal matter of Bangladesh. India should not be concerned about it. What is the MEA's stand on that?
Abhishek Jha: Sir Abhishek Jha this side. Sir we have learned that Bangladesh delegation was here to discuss the credit line that India has been supporting Bangladesh, and there have been some projects have been shared also from the entire credit line scheme. So, what is the detail if you can share with us and also Professor Yunus, the Bangladeshi President has recently said that Sheikh Hasina will stand trial even in absentia. So what's the status of her extradition request from Bangladesh?
Madhurendra Kumar, News Nation: Sir Madhurendra, News Nation se. Sir, Gaza ko le kar America ka apna plan samne aaya hain. Wahi jo Arab desh hain, unhone baithak kar ke bataya hain ki Gaza ki punarnirman ke liye unki kya bhumika hogi. Bharat ka kya stand hain Gaza punarnirman ko le kar?
[Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, Madhurendra from News Nation. Sir, America has presented its plan regarding Gaza. Meanwhile, the Arab countries have held a meeting and stated what their role will be in the reconstruction of Gaza. What is India's stance on the reconstruction of Gaza?
Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay. Rishabh, first on your question regarding minority issues, etc. We have repeatedly underlined that it is the responsibility of the interim government of Bangladesh to protect the Hindus and other minorities as well as their properties and religious institutions. As you would have seen so far only 1254 incidents of over 2374 incidents reported from between August 5th, 2024 to February 16, 2025 have been verified by the police. Further 98% of these 1254 incidents were deemed political in nature. We expect Bangladesh to thoroughly investigate and bring all perpetrators of killings, arson, and violence to justice without making such distinctions.
[Response in Hindi]: Dekhiye, jaha tak Bangladesh me humare alpsankhyak varg aur Hindu varg, uske alawa aur bhi jo alpsankhyak logon ka mamla hain, unke suraksha ka mamla hain, hum log lagatar ye kehte rahe hain ki waha ki jo antarim sarkar hain, ye unki responsibility hain, unki zimmedari hain ki unki suraksha pe dhyan de. Haal hi ke dino me aapne dekha hoga, kuch byora jo waha se aaya tha, usme 1254 mamle jo 2374 mamle me se 1254 mamle ko verify kiya gaya tha jo August 2024 aur February 2025 ke bich me. aur ye jo 98% jo mamle hain … 1254 incidents ke, inko political ghoshit kiya hain, political in nature ghoshit kiya hain. Humara ye expectation hain Bangladesh se ki jitne bhi mamle aaye hain, ispe karwahi ho aur jo log uske zimmedar hain, jo doshi hain, aaropi hain, unpe sakht se sakht karwahi ho taki logon ko nyaay dilaya ja sake.
Abhishek, your question regarding development cooperation. We recently had a meeting on development cooperation matters with Bangladesh. We had the Bangladeshi delegation here in India. And as you know, development cooperation is a priority area of collaboration of our relations with the people of Bangladesh. The recent security situation and long-standing local issues have affected the pace of implementation of some of these projects. The official discussion therefore focused on rationalizing the project portfolio and executing mutually agreed projects in a time bound manner. Subject to obtaining the committed support and pending clearances from the Bangladesh side. We plan to take these projects forward.
Abhishek on your question regarding former Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Our position is what I had stated earlier and that is what remains.
Madhu, Gaza ko le ke dekhiye, Palestine ke saath humare purane development cooperation ke sambandh rahe hain. Pichle gat saalon me humne kariban 160 million dollar ka unko sahayata pradan kiya hain. Aur abhi bhi 40 million dollar ki sahayata aur projects chal rahe hain. Jabse October ke mahine 2023 se jab ye ladai shuru hui, uske baad se kariban 65 million dollar ka hum logo ne sahayata aur dawaiyan unko pradan kiye hain. To Gaza ke saath humare development cooperation ki partnership mazboot hain, Palestine ke saath aur isko hum aage aage bhi le jayenge.
[Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Madhu, regarding Gaza, look, we have had long-standing development cooperation relations with Palestine. Over the past several years, we have provided them with assistance worth approximately 160 million dollars. Even now, projects worth 40 million dollars in aid are ongoing. Since the war started in October 2023, we have provided them with approximately 65 million dollars in aid and medicines. So, our development cooperation partnership with Palestine is strong, and we will continue to take it forward.
With that ladies and gentlemen we come to the close of this press briefing. Thank you very much for your presence.
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