Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Good evening friends. Welcome to the weekly press briefing. I have a couple of announcements.
Foreign Minister of China, His Excellency Mr. Wang Yi, will be visiting India next week. During his visit he will hold bilateral consultations with the External Affairs Minister on Aug 13, 2016.
The visit of Foreign Minister Mr. Wang Yi to India is part of the regular high level dialogue between the two countries. FM Wang visited India in 2014 and was among the first foreign ministers to be received by Hon’ble External Affairs Minister. EAM had
visited China in Jan-Feb 2015. Both the foreign ministers have been meeting regularly on the margins of multilateral meetings. Most recently they had met in Moscow during the Russia-India-China trilateral meeting in April 2016.
During the visit the two sides will discuss various issues of mutual interest including the upcoming multilateral meetings, viz. the G20 Summit being held in China and the BRICS Summit being held in India.
My second announcement pertains to the 4th Foreign Office Consultations between India and Thailand.
The 4th Foreign Office Consultations between India and Thailand were held in New Delhi on Aug 04, 2016. The Indian side was led by Smt. Preeti Saran, Secretary (East) and the Thailand side was led by His Excellency Mr. Apichart Chinwanno, Permanent Secretary,
Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the FOCs, the two sides held deliberations on the entire gamut of bilateral relations including the follow up on the outcomes of the recent State visit of His Excellency Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand, on 16 – 18 June, 2016, celebrations
of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, cooperation in economic trade and investment, political, defence and security related matters, connectivity and increase in people-to-people ties.
During the consultations both sides exchanged views on issues of mutual concern at regional and multilateral level including cooperation in ASEAN, BIMSTEC, ACD, UN and other international organizations.
This completes my announcements. The floor is now open to questions.
Question: Vikas could you please give us some clarity on what really transpired in Islamabad because Mr. Rajnath Singh in the House was saying that ANI, DD, PTI were not allowed and he does not really know about the MEA protocol, but diplomatic
sources saying that this should not be considered as a black-out which forced one of the Parliamentarians to ask if the MEA and MHA are really on the same page or not?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: First of all I would like you to peruse what Hon’ble Home Minister said in Parliament today. Let me read out to you the relevant portions of Hon’ble Home Minister’s response to the questions posed
by Hon’ble Parliamentarians. I am quoting from the transcript which has been made available by Rajya Sabha Secretariat.
"अब हमारी वहां पर जो स्पीच थी, कवर की गई या नहीं की गई और कवर करने की ऐसी परम्परा पहले रही है या नहीं रही है, नहीं की गई, क्या डेलिबरेटली नहीं की गई, इसका इस समय उत्तर देना हमारे लिए कठिन होगा। हां, इतना, मैं कहूंगा कि मैं तो स्पीच दे रहा था,मैंने नहीं देखा
कि उसका लाइव टेलीकॉस्ट हुआ या नहीं हुआ, लेकिन यह सच है कि भारत से जो दूरदर्शन और ए0एन0आई0 के रिपोर्टर और हमारे पी0टी0आई0 के रिपोर्टर्स थे, उनको अंदर प्रवेश करने की इजाज़त नहीं दी गई। यह सच है।"
And later he once again clarified
"एक बात कि हमारी जो स्पीच ब्लैक-आउट कर दी गई, अब वहां पर इस से पहले परम्परा क्या रही है, उस के बारे में मुझे विदेश मंत्रालय से विस्तृत जानकारी लेनी पड़ेगी कि क्या परम्परा रही है, परम्परा की जानकारी मुझे नहीं है, इसलिए उस संबंध में तो मैं कुछ नहीं कह पाऊंगा।"
So, I would like to ask where the contradiction between what was put out yesterday and what Hon’ble Home Minister has said today? The point at issue is that the media that accompanied Hon’ble Home Minister was not in the room and a number of you who had
applied for visas did not get visas. Naturally, this restrictive approach by Pakistan, even for a multilateral event, is not helpful in promoting closer ties between SAARC countries.
In so far as the practices regarding the live coverage of such SAARC meetings is concerned, this was clarified yesterday and we would naturally defer to the SAARC Secretariat in such matters. So, let me say categorically that there is no contradiction between
what was said by Hon’ble Home Minister in Parliament today and what the general understanding of SAARC practices is.
Question: Was it a black-out?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: It has been made very clear.
Question: Live telecast nahi hona ek alag baat hai, doosari baat hai ki DD, PTI aur ANI ki team ko andar jaane nahi dena, unko record nahi karne dena aur ek aur badi baat ye ki kisi bhi Pakistan ke channel mein, kisi bhi tarah ka jo coverage
hai, kuch bhi hamari nigah mein nahi aaya, to is hisaab se ek black-out toh tha wahan par.
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Agar event hi media ke liye open nahi hai toh aap usko black-out kaise kah sakte hain.
Question: If this event had happened in India, would the same protocol would have been followed?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: If it is a SAARC event, we have to follow the SAARC practice in such matters.
Question: So is this the SAARC protocol?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Yes, this is the SAARC protocol.
Question: Sir, a minister of Kerala has made allegations that the MEA has denied him diplomatic passport. Could you please elaborate?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: I think you are referring to Kerala minister Mr. K T Jaleel. I think there seems to be a misunderstanding. This matter is not about the issue of diplomatic passport, it is about the timing of a ministerial
visit. At this time, the focus of our mission and consulate in Saudi Arabia is on helping the Indian workers who are facing hardship and also on helping the Indian pilgrims who have arrived in the holy city of Mecca for the sacred Haj pilgrimage. Surely it
cannot be anybody’s case that the mission should not pay the fullest attention to the requirements of Indian citizens including those in distress.
Question: The Saudi Ambassador has told us today that the exact number of Indians affected in Saudi Arabia is 2500 and it only refers to one particular company, which has led to this situation. Earlier we have seen the External Affairs Minister
herself tweeted that it is ten thousand, later on it came down to 7700. What exactly is the figure, if you could just clarify? Does it just include one company?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Let me put the issues faced by Indian workers in Saudi Arabia in four different clusters.
The first and most immediate cluster is the cluster relating to humanitarian issues. The conditions of the camps in which they are living, the health conditions there, the safety conditions there, the security conditions there and most importantly whether
they are getting food or not? As you know very well, following the interventions by External Affairs Minister and following the visit of Hon’ble Minister of State Gen. V K Singh to Saudi Arabia, the Saudi authorities have themselves clarified that they are
going to be very prompt in addressing all the humanitarian issues being faced by Indian workers. Instruction have already been issued by the Saudi authorities to maintain cleanliness, provide electricity, water supply and medical facilities at the camps in
which the Indians are staying and the food also is now being provided by a Saudi caterer. So, that is the status as far as the humanitarian issues are concerned.
The second set of issues pertains to claims by Indian workers. Earlier, in accordance with Saudi law, individual complaints used to go to labour courts. Now the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Labor has set up a committee to look into the claims of
the workers. A Crisis Management Group has also been set up by the Ministry of Labour to settle all issues related to Indian workers. The Ministry of Labour will now also appoint a lawyer and we will know the exact procedure regarding this in the next 2 -
3 days. So the point to note here is that those workers who have not been paid for several months, even if they choose to return to India, their claims regarding their unpaid wages will be filed, will be lodged and will be pursued by the Saudi authorities.
The third set of issues pertains to relocation. Workers who want to remain in Saudi Arabia and want to try and seek employment in other companies, considering that the original companies for which they came to work have folded or they are no longer in a
position to hire them, the Saudi authorities have conveyed they are willing to renew the resident permits and labour cards to the Indian workers without any fines or fees. Workers who are willing to be transferred to other employers would be transferred without
payment of fee or charge and without needing the consent of the current employer. Workers who wish to transfer their services can request the Ministry of Labour for grant of a 3 month temporary resident permit cum labour card. We believe that many companies,
including some Indian construction firms (in Saudi Arabia), are interested in taking the services of the retrenched workers. And if such a development indeed happens then this would be a win-win situation for all.
The fourth set of issues pertains to repatriation. There the Saudi authorities have conveyed that in case Indian workers wishes to return to India then they themselves, meaning the Saudi authorities, will make all the necessary arrangements. The workers
can authorize the Indian consulate in Jeddah to follow up on their cases in labour courts and proceed on exit if they wish. The Saudi authorities have ensured speeding up of the final exit for these workers. Now, you would appreciate that these things do take
time. There will be a lag with which all workers will be given their applications and issuance of transfer permits will also have to be carried out
Our Consulate has already given an initial list of workers willing to come back to India and those seeking transfer to Saudi authorities. As you can see, due to our excellent relationship with Saudi Arabia and efforts made at the highest level, things are
in control and this humanitarian issue is being handled with utmost care and consideration. So I think we will have to wait for a little more time before we can have full clarity as to how many Indians want to come back, how many want to remain there and wish
to pursue employment with other companies etc.
Question: Sir, you implied that Pakistan did not violate the SAARC protocol by not allowing DD, ANI into the room, yet you have criticized them for their restrictive approach, so what is your stand?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: You are confused between two issues. It is one issue to allow Indian media to travel to Pakistan to cover events which are open to the media to cover and it is one issue not to allow Indian media
to travel at all. Let’s not conflate the two issues.
Question: Recently there have been reports about Indian prisoner Hamid Ansari in Peshawar court, he has been attacked twice in two months. So what is the status because earlier they denied the consular access for Hamid Ansari?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: As you may recall, there is a petition in the Peshawar High Court requesting the court to summon the superintendent of the jail where Hamid Ansari is currently lodged. So far as we understand, the
petition was filed following earlier reports that Hamid Ansari was attacked in prison. Through our High Commission in Islamabad, the Government has also raised the matter of Mr. Ansari’s well-being and his early release. We have also reiterated our earlier
stand and request for consular access and asked the Government of Pakistan to allow him to speak to his family. So that is the status.
Question: Sir, we have seen in the last one month, Pakistan raking up the Kashmir issue regularly at the United Nations level. We have seen them approach the UN at different foras. Syed Akbaruddin has also spoken recently on the same issue,
but now United Nation’s Chief Spokesperson has said that their UNMOG’s mandate is not beyond Line of Control. Now that is a major statement. How does India look at it?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: I think they have stated what the correct facts in the matter are. It is not for UNMOGIP to monitor the situation in Jammu & Kashmir and this has also been clarified by the Official Spokesperson
of the United Nations Secretary General.
Question: Sir could you please tell us why was there no bilateral meeting between the Home Minister and the Interior Minister of Pakistan, because there were some statements from MHA yesterday suggesting that the bilateral could not happen
because there is no forward movement so far on Pathankot attack. Is this a new red line? If this is so, in November when Prime Minister visits, would he then have a bilateral with Nawaz Sharif or not?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Look, I had made this very clear in my last press conference that Hon’ble Home Minister would be proceeding to Pakistan to participate in a multilateral event. At that time also, some of you had
asked me the question, will there be any bilateral meeting? I had made it very clear that he is going for a multilateral. Subsequently there were reports that there would be bilateral meetings and all that. Eventually you have seen what has happened.
Hon’ble Home Minister went to Pakistan for participation in a multilateral event, he participated in the multilateral event, and he has come back.
Question: Sir, aaj hum log Grah Mantri ji se mile they toh yah poochha ki protocol ka wahan kai jagah par paalan nahi hua. Toh unhone kaha ki MEA batayega ki protocol ka paalan hua ki nahi hua, main is par kuch nahi kahunga. To aap is par
kuch kahenge?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Dekhiye Grah Mantri ji ne bahut spasht shabdon mein, aur bahut sateek shabdon mein apna ek statement Sansad mein diya hai. Us statement mein jitne bhi mudde aap log utha rahe hain, un sab muddon
par unhone prakash dala hai. Ab uske beyond, Videsh Mantralay ki taraf se mujhe koi tippani dena uchit nahi hoga. Mere khayaal se Grah Mantri ji ne bahut spasht tareeke se apna bayaan diya hai.
Question: Kya Videsh Mantralay se jaankaari officially maangi gai hai kya?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Videsh Mantralay ke log Home Minister ke saath gaye they. Videsh Mantralay aur Grah Mantralay mein poora talmel tha is visit ko lekar toh is tarah ki koi baat hi nahi hai ki aapas mein hum logon
ke beech koi matbhed ho ya koi spashtikaran ki aavashyakta ho.
Question: MEA has been projecting the Home Minister’s visit as a commitment to a multilateral event, but eventually the whole thing turned out to be a slugfest between India and Pakistan. So do you think the visit has been successful or
did we achieve what we wanted to achieve in SAARC?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: To the best of my knowledge, the Home Minister did not use the word ‘Pakistan’ in his statement at all and I think the other side also did not use the word ‘India’ in their statement. This was a
multilateral event. It was the SAARC Home Minister’s Meeting. The SAARC Home Ministers have important issues to discuss and deliberate upon including terrorism, including drug-trafficking, fake currency notes and things like that and I think our side was definitely
successful in putting across our point of view on all these important matters and how it is important for SAARC to have a united approach. I think I would particularly refer you to Hon’ble Home Minister’s comments on the issue of terrorism where he said that
the distinction between ‘good’ terrorist and ‘bad’ terrorist, this practice of some countries to glorify terrorists as martyrs and things like that are not conducive for the overall development of the region. Such approaches should not be pursued and in fact
we should pursue a cooperative approach in which all of us have a common approach to deal with terrorism because a terrorist is a terrorist, is a terrorist.
Question: Sir, if the decision to keep this visit of Mr. Rajnath Singh a multilateral one and not to go for any bilateral meeting was yours only or did they also not request any such meeting? If so, can we safely assume…..
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: There was never any proposal. I had clarified this in my press conference that there is no such proposal. Eventually, no such proposal materialized also. He went for a multilateral event, he came
back from a multilateral event. That is the end of the story.
Question: There are reports that the Hon’ble Home Minister left the venue without having the lunch there and he did not participate in the full deliberations after that. And if he was there, is there any result of SAARC that we can write
about it?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Hon’ble Home Minister had made it very clear, at what time his flight is to leave from Islamabad. He stuck to that schedule. The lunch that you are referring to, the host himself was not there. So
I don’t think we need to deliberate too much on whether there was a lunch or not.
Question: What is the result of SAARC meeting?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Please refer to Hon’ble Home Minister’s statement, the very detailed statement he delivered in the parliament today. He has clearly said what the overall outcomes of his visit were.
Question: Sir jo baat aap yahan kah rahe hain aur jo Rajnath Singhji ne jo Parliament mein kaha hai, kahin na kahin dono baton mein variance dikhai padta hai, aur woh isliye hai ki……
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Fir woh variance aapke mastishk mein hi hai. Maine spasht kiya hai ki koi variance nahi hai, kahan virodhabhas aapko lag raha hai?
Question: Woh aise hai ki jab unhone is baat ko kaha ki jahan tak protocol ka sawal hai, uspar MEA aapko batayenge toh fir aapko batana chahiye ki aakhirkar unhone bhojan chhod kar ke vaapas aana behtar samjha. Kya koi aisi baat hai, koi
protocol hai jo ki nahi barati gai Pakistan ke dwara ya fir aapko lagta hai ki sab kuch sahi tha?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Rajnath Singhji ne jo Sansad mein kaha hai, uske beyond main aur kuch nahi kahna chahta hoon, koi aur teeka-tippani main is par main nahi karna chahta hoon. Parliament mein jo unhone statement diya
hai woh bahut hi spasht hai aur uske alawaa ab us pe aur teeka-tippani ki aavashyakta nahi hai.
Question: Pakistan ke Grah Mantri jab bol rahe they to us samay live telecast hua tha, Rajnath ji ke bolne ke baad dobara fir unka telecast hua?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Main aapko baar-baar bata chukka hoon ki practice ye hoti hai ki ek opening statement, jo Chair ki taraf se diya jata hai, host country ki taraf se, kai international conferences mein ye practice
rahi hai, ki wahan tak media ko access rahta hai, wahan tak live telecast hota hai, uske baad session closed-door ho jata hai taaki frank discussion ho sake.
Question: Can you give any more details on China-India Foreign Ministers meeting?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: The details will be given after the meeting has happened. Today I have just announced the meeting. As I told you, on 13th of August, there will be bilateral discussion between EAM and her Chinese
counterpart and there will be a read out at the end of that meeting.
Question: As far as this K T Jaleel’s issue, for how many days Kerala government has to wait for a travel to Jeddah?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: As I said, these things are not in our hands. We go by what is the assessment of the embassy situated there. Whether they are in a position to handle ministerial visits at a time when they are already
preoccupied with other things, and the most important thing is that the Government of India is responsible for the safety, security and welfare of all Indians belonging to every Indian state.
Question: Sir, Saudi Arab masale par aap ne poori vistrat jankari di aur V K Singh saab already wahan par hain toh unka airlift plan kya hai?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Aaj wahan se woh wapas prasthan karenge.
Question: Logon ko saath lekar ya akele aa rahe hain?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Jaise maine bataya ab to saath laane ki baat hi nahi hai, ab to Saudi authorities ne kah diya hai ki jo bhi Indian worker repatriation chahte hain woh unki zimmedari hai.
Question: You said that EAM would lead the delegation to Italy for the Mother Teresa function. Who are the other members? Is the Chief Minister of Delhi included?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: I spoke to the External Affairs Minister today also and the delegation is still in the process of being finalized. I cannot give you a read out on that delegation because composition is still in
the process of being finalized.
Question: How would you qualify Mr. Nisaar Khan not attending the lunch?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: It is not for me to qualify or disqualify. These questions should be put to the host.
Question: Recently Chinese troops entered in the Uttarakhand. Could you raise the issue with Chinese?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: On this particular issue, Hon’ble Defence Minister has already issued a clarification in Parliament. There are established practices between India and China to deal with such issues. A Border Personnel
Meeting also took place recently to resolve the issue at the army-to-army level.
Thank you all.
(Concludes)