Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Very good afternoon to all of you. Thank you for joining us for this Weekly Media Briefing. I don't have any particular announcements to start, but I'm happy to take a few questions.
Shalinder: Sir Shalinder News 18 se, aapne dekha hoga aisi reports aa rahi hai ki Australia mein ek Indian student Shubham Garg par janleva hamla hua hai, 11 baar unako stab kiya gaya hai. Ek to ye ki is mamle mein Indian High Commission ki taraf se kya kadam uthaye gaye hai, kya support provide kiya jaa raha hai aur doosra kya ye ek racial attack hai ya nahi? (Questioned in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Sir Shalinder from News 18, you must have seen reports that an Indian student, Shubham Garg has been violently attacked in Australia, he has been stabbed 11 times. What steps have been taken by the Indian High Commission in this case, what support has been provided and secondly, is it a racial attack or not?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Anybody has related to this issue? You have something related to this? Go ahead.
Rishabh: I’m Rishabh from Times Now. Sir, Australian High Commissioner in Delhi has confirmed that the younger brother has been issued visa. So will MEA be supporting in any way to get him as soon as possible to Sydney.
Yeshi: Yeshi Seli from The New Indian Express. Yesterday at CICA, India snubbed Pakistan PM Shahbaz Sharif for what he said on Kashmir and later, both Shahbaz Sharif and subsequent to that, and Meenakashi Lekhi, said that they're willing to reconsider meeting each other; not reconsider, but willing to walk the talk and would like to have a friendly neighbourhood. Any comments on that? Shahbaz also said that, and Meenakashi Lekhi also said that.
Sidhant: Sir, Sidhant from WION. Next month, we will see the so called Khalistani referendum in Canada, we have seen reports as well. I mean, have you raised the issue? I know the matter has been raised but how seriously the Canadian government is looking to curtail this development?
Manish Kumar Jha: This is Manish Kumar Jha from Financial Express. This is regarding the recent comment by UK Home Secretary on the issue of visa and migration and all. And the subsequent report which talks about the talks, the Free Trade Agreement talks have been halted. There are many reports talking about this. What is our official position and are the negotiation on in this direction, and has it slowed down, how has this impacted? Thank you.
Sanjay: This is Sanjay here from the ITV. I have related question to ask sir. UK has blamed India for halting this trade deal, saying that India has been trying to bulldoze demanding for more work visas and many other things which is not tenable as per their situation.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Sorry could you repeat the question India has been blamed?
Sanjay: UK is blaming India for halting the trade deal, which was expected to happen this month. Prime Minister Modi was apparently going to London for that.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Shalinder ji aapka pehla sawal tha jo ghatna Australia mein kuchh dinon pahale hui hai, ghatna I think 6 tarikh ki ghatna hai. Dekhiye, ye bahut dukhad ghatna hai jiske saath hum avgat hai, hamari ye jankari hai ki matlab vahan pe abhi woh aspatal mein hai treatment chal raha hai unka. Hamare jo High Commission hai or Consulate Sydney mein hai ye unke local authorities ke saath close touch mein hain aur unke family ke saath bhi yahan pe hum contact mein hain. I think or hamare kuchh officials Sydney mein aspataal mein bhi jaake unse mile kal aur hamare consular jo services hain, hamne usko extend kiya. Aur hamein abhi gyat hua hai ki kuchh ek suspect hai jo abhi hiraasat mein liye gaye hai par iske baaren mein aapko jyada details aapko Australian authority bata payenge on the investigation. Par hamara yahi expectation hai ki isko seriously dekha jaye aur karwai kiya jaye jo bhi perpetrators hain unpar. Aapne puchha tha racial hai ya nahi, dekhiye is speculation par mein abhi nahi jana chahunga. Hamara abhi yahi focus hai ki abhi unka treatment chale, vo khatre se bahar rahen aur jo bhi apradhi hai usko pakda jaye fir pata chalega ki kya ho sakta hai. Abhi is speculation pe main nahi jana chahunga. (Answered in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Shalinder ji, your first question was on the incident took place a few days ago in Australia, I think on the 6th October. See, this is a very shocking incident with which we are aware. Our information is that victim is currently in the hospital, his treatment is going on. Our High Commission and Consulate in Sydney, are in close touch with local authorities there and we are also in contact with their family here. I think some of our officials also went to the hospital in Sydney and met him yesterday and we have also extended our consular services. We have come to know that there is a suspect who has just been detained, but Australian authorities will be able to tell you more details about it, on the investigation. But it is our expectation that it will be looked at seriously and the action will be taken against the perpetrator. You asked whether it is racial or not, see I do not want to go into this speculation now. Our focus right now is that his treatment should happen, he should stay out of danger and whoever is a perpetrator should be caught, then it will be known what could have happened. I don't want to go into this speculation right now.
I think Rishabh your question was related to this issue, which was yes, we have been in touch with the family here. We have requested the Australian High Commission here to expedite travel documents of visas so that family members could urgently go, I'm happy to hear that it's done. I know it was in process as I walked in. And we hope that they are able to go and meet their family member there. And I would only reiterate what I just told you that we are focusing that the alleged perpetrator has been arrested, we understand and we hope that is the case. This is a shocking incident. And our consulate official was at the hospital, I think and has met the victim and we are also in touch with local authorities.
Yeshi, you talked about the CICA. Look on CICA, you would have seen the statement by our Minister of State Meenakashi Lekhi Ji, she was there, she went as a special envoy of Prime Minister. Her intervention there, we had made it public. I am unable to comment anything beyond that vis a vis what other people said because, as I said, we have made it pretty clear what our position is on terrorism emanating from Pakistan. And, of course, we want normal relations with Pakistan is a statement that we've always said, but it has to be in a atmosphere that's conducive and free from terrorism. I think that part is pretty well known. I don't need to really get into it in detail. So I don't have any additional comments to that. And I certainly am not going to try to clarify what our Minister would have said there.
Sidhant you spoke I think of the issue of the so-called referendum. This is Part II of that referendum I understand. I think we had an occasion to discuss this in one of our earlier pressers. I think our position on this so-called referendum and by anti-India elements is well known, it has been conveyed to the Canadian government, we have publicly shared this information earlier. We have taken up with the Canadian High Commission here in Delhi, our concerns about this next phase of the so-called referendum in Canada and also in Canada with the Canadian authorities. We will continue to take up these issues both in New Delhi and in Ottawa and elsewhere. So that's what I would like to convey on this issue.
Manish, you were asking for comment actually on the comment by UK Home Secretary, which is never a good idea to do that. And I'm not going to be able to indulge you, I must confess. But let me just make perhaps a couple of broader points. Look, there are ongoing negotiations as we know on the FTA, and there is interest in both sides to see if we can work towards a deal, an FTA that is beneficial for both countries at an early date. But this is a negotiation, trade negotiations. It’s best such matters are left between the trade ministers of both countries, they have been dealt by the trade ministers of both countries, and I would think it's best left to them. However, I wouldn't like to make a comment on the UK Home Secretary's statement obviously, but let me just clarify this larger issue of mobility, and mobility and consular matters. This is a separate issue and there are understandings between both countries and going forward this will require mutual implementation of these understandings, and I think, I will let that be the message from this.
Sanjay, you have mentioned again, yours also related partly to this. I certainly am not party or going to accept what you prefaced your question with, same as Manish has said. Look, as I said there are negotiations underway. I didn't realize the negotiations have come to a halt. I certainly have not been informed of that nature. Let this be left to the negotiators. I haven't seen any statement where the UK has blamed India. I saw lots of well-meaning media reports. Let me leave it at that. I don't know where they get these from. I think negotiators are at it. And let me reiterate our interest, on both sides, I think, is to reach some kind of a deal, FTA that helps both countries. Okay, next round of questions.
Speaker 1: Are you hopeful that you'll be able to seal this deal by the end of this month as was proposed last time?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: I don't think the end of the month business came in. I think there was a general goal of trying to get it done by Diwali. As I said, I think last week it's a goal, but goals are dependent on the negotiation. That's why they're called negotiations. So let me not complicate the negotiators’ lives by saying it has to be done by a certain date. I think the UK side also said something saying they would like a good deal rather than just artificial deadline. I think that sums it up well. Okay. Yeah, please.
Kavita Joshi: Sir mein Kavita Joshi hoon Hari Bhoomi Newspaper se, mera sawal Sir China ke taraf se jo student visa ko lekar hai, kya cheen ne matlab bharatiya chhatro ko vahan per jo medical ke, engineering ke padhai ke liye hain kafi samay se visa ka intezaar kar rahe the, aise 1300 chhatro ko visa diya hai, kya iske baad aisa lag raha hai ki ye issue jo hai visa vala China ke saath jaldi khatm ho sakta hai? (Questioned in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Sir I am Kavita Joshi from Hari Bhoomi Newspaper, my question is about student visa from China, has China given visas to 1300 Indian students who were waiting for visa for a long time for medical, engineering studies. After this, it seems that this visa related issue with China will end soon?
Akshay: Hi Sir, this is Akshay from India Today. Former media executives Zulfiquar Ahmed Khan, and another Indian have been missing since July 21, and the family is saying that they have even reached out to the Prime Minister now. In fact, they're planning to. So what is the update on that, if you have any?
Parsa Venkateshwar Rao: This is Parsa Venkateshwar Rao, freelance journalist. I just wanted to know the position of India. India abstained on the vote against Russia on the annexation process. The abstinence, can we infer that India has reservations about annexation process? Does the government have a position?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: This is on the UNGA vote?
Parsa Venkateshwar Rao: UNGA.
Manohar Manoj: Myself Manohar Manoj from Economy India. I just want to know what is the latest update over the Indian manufactured drug havoc in African country?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Sorry, could you repeat, rephrase your question.
Manohar Manoj: Sir one syrup drug created some havoc in African country. So that was raised on the international fora. So, what is the latest update on that.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: If you are unable to specify which country I'm going to answer also on those lines. But if you're talking specific African country, then I know what you're talking about.
Manohar Manoj: Gambia.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: That's fine, Gambia. Fair enough. I'll come back. I'll answer that. If it's not a general question I'm happy to answer it.
Speaker 2: This is (inaudible) from the Nikkei. Regarding the recent G20 Finance Leaders’ Summit, they could not make that joint statement. And could you give me some of the comment about these kinds of disruptive situation among the major countries?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: You're talking not of the summit? You said Summit what you meant is the Finance Ministers’ Meeting in Washington.
Speaker 2: Sorry.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: And your question is that they couldn't come up with the agreed text and if you have any comment on that.
Speaker 2: Yeah, right.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Kavita ji aapne prashn poochha tha ye Chinese, you know China mein jo Indian chhatra hai unke visa ke baare mein. Pichle baar hamane kuchh kaha tha iske baare mein. Aapko yaad hoga hamne kaha tha ki kuchh visa pe shuru hui hai, unhonne kuchh woh kah rahe hai ki unko visa de rahe hai. Jaise samajh sakte hai visa issue hamare saath nahi hota hai vo student or Chinese government ke saath hota hai. Hamen bataya gaya hai ki wo students apne universities ko contact karen aur dhire-dhire unake visa issue ho rahe hai. 1300 issue huye ya nahi ye main kah nahi sakta hoon kyonki Chinese sootron ne ya Chinese sarkar ne ya Chinese government ne kaha hai iske baare mein, hamein exact details iske baare mein nahi malum hai kyokin hamen jitna door malum hai ki China mein jo visas ka jo prakriya thi kuchh visas mein change hua tha but hamara focus tha ki student ja payen China jo itane dinon ke liye unko dikkat aa rahi thee. Is baare mein humko bataya gaya tha ki kuchh chhatro ko unhonne identify kiya hai aur kuchh process tha woh complete karne ke baad unki universities ke saath contact mein rahen aur unko visa k baren main bataya jayegaa. Lag raha hai ki abhi kuchh student abhi jana shuru ho gaye hai kuchh students per abhi kafi aur ruke hue hai to hum ispe nazar banaye rakhenge aur dekhenge hum isko kaise help kar sakte hai ki student ja paen.Par finally ye Chinese government ka decision hai aur usamen details aapko China se hi mil payega ki kitne student ko unhonne visa diya hai. (Answered in Hindi; Approximate Translation)
Kavita ji, you asked about the Chinese visa of Indian students. Last time we said something about it. You will remember that we had said that they are saying that they are issuing them the visas. As you can understand, that visa issue is between the student and Chinese government. We have been told that those students should contact their universities and gradually their visa issue is getting resolved. I cannot say whether there are 1300 visas issued or not. Chinese sources or Chinese government have said about it, but we do not know exact details. As far as we know the process of visas in China was changed. Our focus was on ensuring that students who had been facing problems from so many days could go to China. In this regard, we were told that some students have been identified by them and there was some process, after which, students were asked to stay in touch with their universities and that they will be told about visa. It seems that some students have just started going back, some students are still stuck, so we will keep an eye out on it and see how we can help these students so that they can go back. But finally, this is the decision of the Chinese government and you will get details from China on how many students have been given visa by them.
Akshay, I think your query was on the case of the missing Indian nationals in Kenya right? That was the query if I've got correct? Look, as far as we understand there were two Indian nationals, Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan and Zaid Sami Kidwai, they've been missing there in Kenya since I think mid-July, July 23rd is what I have. Look a police complaint has been filed there pretty soon after that. And subsequently a habeas corpus petition was filed in the Kenyan court. We understand that the issue is now sub-judice in the High Court of Kenya, number of hearings have taken place. I think recently this week, I think one hearing took place. Our High Commission has been in continuous touch with the Kenyan authorities. We are also I think, in touch with some family members. Let me emphasize that we attach the highest consideration and attention to the safety and the wellbeing of these Indian Nationals like we do with many others. I don't have really any update, because as you can realize the police authorities as well as the judicial authorities in Kenya are involved in this and they're trying to find out what is there. We are keeping a close watch on this development. And if there is any update, we will certainly share that. But at this point, I am afraid, they're still missing.
Moving on to I think Mr. Parsa, on the recent UNGA vote vis a vis Russia's annexation efforts at Ukraine. Look, on this one, I think our position has been made pretty clear. You prefaced it by saying that this is an indicator of that we accept? No I think I would not be in a position to agree with your perspective on that. We had Explanation of Vote, which sums up our position. If you wish I will recall some of the elements of that. We certainly have been talking about the importance that we attach that, in our Explanation of Vote and I can quote from that, if you wish that the global order that we all subscribe to, is based on international law, the UN Charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states, these principles must be upheld. We said that, during the Explanation of Vote, we also said some other elements of it. Of course, our vote on any resolution is made keeping in mind the totality of the situation and the text of the resolution. And I think we've explained why we did that in our EOV. I don't have much else to add, but except to say I disagree with putting that hypothesis from our perspective.
Manohar, you had asked about the Gambia. Look, that's a very, very unfortunate story where children have died reportedly due to spurious drugs. I think our health authorities issued a detailed statement in this regard already a few days ago, I would refer you to that. Investigation is underway by drug regulators in India. There is a company in question. I don't want to name it here, but it's there in the press release by I think the Ministry of Health. Our drug regulatory authorities are undertaking investigation; certain steps have been taken as you would have seen. We are also in touch with the government of the Gambia, you would have seen the External Affairs Minister’s conversation with the Foreign Minister of Gambia I think yesterday and he issued a Tweet on that. And then he briefed him a little bit on the investigation and agreed to remain in touch. So on that part of it, I would request you to contact our drug regulatory authorities, they would have a better idea of that. But we are in touch with the Gambia and we are following this development closely.
As regards I think you had a comment on the Finance Ministers’ Meeting taking place in Washington, I think it is underway. Look, we are cognizant that in certain G20 meetings, there have been a lack of consensus on documents that have been outcome documents and we'll have to resort to chair summaries, etc. I think this question would be better put to the chair, which is the Indonesia instead of me trying to gauge or sense that, we are just a participant for the moment. Of course, we are part of the Troika, and we will be taking up the Presidency from first of December. But for the moment, I think we shouldn’t take over their role as the Chair and let them perhaps give a sense of how the dynamics of the conversation of such meetings are. So I'll leave it at that.
Rishabh: Rishabh from Times Now. Sir a businessman from Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh was travelling to Switzerland with family on 12th of October, and he was arrested from Abu Dhabi airport. It is claimed that his face resembled someone who was on wanted list, and that's why he has been arrested. Anything that you can tell me about this.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: In Abu Dhabi?
Rishabh: Yes.
Meghna: Sir, Meghna from DD News. Recently, there has been an advisory that was issued by India and our embassy in Ukraine, for Indian nationals to avoid unnecessary travel. So do we have any number on our Indians traveling back to Ukraine, or what is the situation there any update on that as well?
Neville: Neville, from Sky News. Next year, King Charles III was going to be coronated and the Queen is supposed to wear a crown which will have the Kohinoor in it. Is there any comment from the Government on that?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Which part do you want to comment on?
Neville: Getting it back or not wearing it.
Speaker 3: Sir, would India be happy that she is not wearing the Kohinoor which is sort of (inaudible).
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: You can't get me into that by phrasing it different. I will answer his question. Okay. Rishabh look, I'm hesitant to go to individual consular cases unless they are of a nature that have like the incident in Australia or like Kenya. I remember seeing a report on this, but I don't have any updates. So I will not comment on individual cases certainly not where somebody has been arrested by other authorities but as a general principle, whenever the Indian National abroad is in trouble or require consular assistance, our embassy or our consulate our High Commission there will provide whatever consular assistance we can. I don't want to get into individual specific or whether he's wrongly arrested. Whatever consular assistance is required or can be provided will be provided. Rest assured on that.
Meghna, on your question regarding the situation regarding Ukraine. Look, yes, our Embassy there issued an advisory. This was just after a renewed level of bombing all across cities on Ukraine earlier this week, where they asked those Indians who might be in there to take certain preventive and precautionary measures. We are trying to ascertain how many Indians are there, including some students who have gone back, I don't have a number to share with you, for obvious reasons, this will be a very informal numbers so better I do not get into it. But yes, our embassy is trying to contact them, I think they issued advisory saying to contact the embassy also. So we are building up a database of how many people have reached. All may not be in danger, or in areas so let me not complicate that. But yes, depending on the situation on the ground, as well as development that happen, our embassy issue advisories for travellers as well as Indians who are resident there. And this was an occasion where we felt that because of a heightened sense of risk to security we did issue an advisory. I understand from media reports that the situation is slightly better now for the last couple of days. But again, look, this is a conflict situation, and probably not right to make sweeping statements which might change immediately.
Neville, on the Kohinoor, really speaking, that's perhaps a little bit beyond the foreign policy dimensions of this. Since you raised, my understanding is that Government of India has responded to this in Parliament, last being maybe a few years ago, 2018, a few years ago. We have said in that, that we have been raising this matter from time to time with the UK Government or the authorities and that we will continue to explore ways and means for obtaining a satisfactory resolution of the matter and I don't think beyond that I have much to add once you said something in Parliament, I don't think we have an update on that. Happiness, not happiness are not for the state and certainly not for us to say but I said it is something that we have been taking up so that's where it is.
Agar aap hindi mein chahte hain, dekhiye is prashn ka, prashn agar kah lein kyokin inhone tippani ki hai hum khush rahenge ya nahi ya kya hamara reaction hai ? Ye parliament mein iska jawab ek aise uttar beech-beech mein dete rehte hain, jaisa inhone kaha 2018 mein, I think iska jawab diya gaya aur usake pahale bhi de chuke hain. Hamane ye jo mudda hai, hamane relevant authorities, ye kohinoor aur bhi jo antiquities purane hai, hamane UK government ya doosri sarkaron ke sath hum ye mudda uthate rahate hain aur hum koshish karte rahenge aur dekhate rahenge kya upay hai hamare pass, iska koi samadhan nikale jo satisfactory ho, woh samadhan nikale par uske baad se aur koi update mere pass abhi nahi hai. (Answered in Hindi; Approximate Translation) If you want this in Hindi, on this question, if you can call it a question, as it is a comment whether we will be happy or not or what is our reaction? We keep giving answers on it in Parliament. In 2018, I think, as he mentioned it was answered and was answered before also. The matter of Kohinoor and also of other antiquities, we keep raising with the UK government or other governments. We will keep trying for satisfactory solutions. I do not have any further update.
Thank you. I thought I had a last round of questions then but if you have this fine. Okay. You have something. Yes, ma'am.
Rita: I am Rita from the (inaudible). Any updates about the extradition cases of Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi, please.
Abhishek: Sir, Abhishek from CNN. Sir, my question is regarding German Foreign Minister's recent remark on Kashmir, I think MEA has also issued some statement regarding that. Have we heard anything from the German side after you raised this matter?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: I'll take that question first. You are a good journalist. You'd have seen the German ambassador make statements to the media, which I saw, so I have only seen it in the media. Look, I think we issued a detailed statement on this clarifying how we saw that the press conference between the German Foreign Minister and the Pakistani Foreign Minister and their comments specifically on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. I don't think we have much else to add to that. I think it's pretty comprehensive, and I think I saw some comments by the German ambassador here clarifying the perspective of the German government. I think I would let it be at that.
Regarding Rita your query on that. Now, I don't really have an update. This is something that we follow closely. We try to keep in touch with not just these, other fugitives, economic fugitives from justice here and these are two you mentioned vis a vis I think UK, but there are other jurisdictions where they are there. I don't this week have any update because this is a lengthy legal process that is underway. But we monitor it, any developments on that we try to follow up. Certainly our missions, our High Commissions and embassies involved are closely pursuing this issue and we hope that they are brought back to India to face justice. Okay, thank you very much. Good afternoon.