Thiruvananthapuram: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday that India has pledged USD 3.8 billion for support to Sri Lanka during the post-economic crisis, which was building up over time. The Union Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a neighborhood first policy where the government makes special efforts to try and support the needs of the neighbors of the country.
“In the case of Sri Lanka, we have given them a line of credit, which has flown essential commodities from India over the past several months. We have also given them a line of credit for the purchase of fuel. For the time being, we have to recover them. The focus is on helping.
“This year alone, we have promised them about $3.8 billion (US) in terms of supporting them. We have been their biggest supporters. This is one of the reasons they have been able to prevent the situation from getting worse. ” The minister said this in response to questions from journalists at a press conference here.
He also said that there is no concern about India’s security. Political unrest in Sri Lanka As the people there, and around the world, appreciate what we have done for them.
“The answer to Sri Lanka’s problems lies in Sri Lanka itself,” he said.
The Union Minister also said that there is no refugee crisis as of now. “I don’t think we can call it a crisis. Sometimes some people have come from there, but right now I don’t think there is any justification to call it a refugee crisis,” he said.
Jaishankar also questioned the fate of Indian students who returned from China during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as smuggling of gold through the diplomatic bag case and alleged involvement in the purchase of oil from Russia and how it was viewed by the West. UAE Consulate.
On the matter of smuggling, he said that the Ministry of External Affairs and the whole country is aware that “what should not have happened has happened here”.
“But I don’t want to comment on it as the matter is sub-judice. What is important is that everyone, whether in government or whoever is in power, should be treated as per the law,” he said.
On buying oil from Russia, he said, “I go out to buy the cheapest oil. It may or may not be from Russia. My concern is to solve the problem of the people here due to rising fuel prices.”
He said that since the central government has cut taxes on petrol and diesel, the states should also make similar efforts so that people can take advantage of it.
On Indian students who returned from China through their courses, Jaishankar said that he had taken up the issue strongly with the Chinese government and has informed that steps have been taken to allow the students to return. He said, ‘The process has started.
The Union Minister was also asked about the challenges faced by the government in the form of criticism from abroad regarding its policies as well as various incidents in the country, to which he replied that there would be political attacks and propaganda.
“In a globalized world, a political attack here will go abroad. So, we have to be careful how we project things… But under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are able to express our views and defend our views. I will not hesitate. We are very clear on that,” the country’s top diplomat said.
Earlier in the day, when he landed at the Thiruvananthapuram airport, he told reporters that the Indian government had always been supportive of Sri Lanka and was trying to “help” the neighboring country through its current economic crisis. And made it clear that “no refugee crisis yet”.
“They’re working on their problems right now, so we’ll have to wait and see what they do,” he said.
Jaishankar was also asked by journalists the reason for his visit to Kerala, to which he replied that there were several.
He said that he wants to spend time with his party colleagues here and understand how they are doing and what is happening here.
When asked how he sees the BJP’s prospects in the southern state, the Union minister replied that the party’s prospects across the country are very good. “There is no exception anywhere. But we will always try and keep working to improve the possibilities,” he said.
In the evening press conference, Jaishankar said he was here to “assess” what is working and what is not working and how people are reacting to the changes in the last eight years. He said that being a people-centric government, the BJP government at the Center was sending its ministers to find out what was happening at the ground level.