Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Good evening friends and welcome to the weekly press briefing. Since we are already beginning a bit later than usual today, let me begin with a stress busting announcement.
In a diplomatic triumph for India, the Inter-Governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has inscribed Yoga in UNESCO's Representative List as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
This declaration of Yoga as a Human Treasure enjoyed the unanimous support of the 24 member Inter-Governmental Committee which overturned the decision of an evaluation body of technical experts seeking to defer the case to the next session of the committee
in 2017.
The inscription and classification as a Human Treasure brings immense recognition to Yoga, clearing as it has the rigorous criteria set out by UNESCO, the only UN body mandated to capture the intangible aspects of culture.It emphasizes Yoga's role as a social
practice and oral tradition and a system of ancient and scientific knowledge facilitating an enhanced harmony and peace across caste, creed, gender, age and nationality.
Additionally, the inscription enables a bottoms-up empowerment as it directs the spotlight towards the numerous institutions and communities in India disseminating this ancient tradition as well. It can potentially foment a dialogue on the ideas of peace and
tolerance, how these can be extended to meet the goals of sustainable development and where India can play a leading role in this global dialogue on inter-cultural relations.
So I hope you are sufficiently relaxed now to begin the Q&A session.
Question: Vikas, we are getting a lot of queries from NRIs, for instance today somebody has written to us from the US saying that she has been trying to find out what to do with the 500 and 1000 rupee notes. She contacted
the embassy, they told her they really don’t know what to do. A lot of NRIs are basically asking what do they do with the money and who do they ask these questions to?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Well, as you know, the RBI did put out an FAQ on their website which addresses some of these questions. I admit it does not address all the questions and that is why the government
had set up an Inter-Ministerial Task Force which also has a representative from MEA.
I am told - because I spoke to the Joint Secretary who is our member on that Inter-Ministerial Task Force - that the Task Force has formulated a set of recommendations. These recommendations are currently under review by the Department of Economic Affairs and
as soon as we have a decision from them, we will be in a position to communicate this.
Question: Vikas, we have seen one more terror attack incident in Nagrota this time and that too by Pak-sponsored terrorists. What is India going to do about it and do you think there has been increase in attacks on India
post the surgical strike?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: As you all know, Pakistan is a country which has a long record of carrying out cross-border terrorism which it regards as an instrument of state policy. This puts Pakistan at odds
with the rest of the international community.Over the years India has suffered many heinous attacks which have been supported and sponsored by Pakistan.
This has been a calculated strategy on the part of Pakistan for many years. The attack on the Indian Parliament, the Kaluchak massacre, the 2005 Delhi bombings, the attack on the CRPF camp in Rampur in 2008, of course we all know the Mumbai terror attack, the
attack on the Pathankot Airbase and the attack on the Army Camp in Uri, are all reminders of the continuing complicity of Pakistan in sponsoring cross-border terrorism of which Nagrota is the latest example.
So it is evident that this is not a matter of a week or a month, it is in fact a challenge which we have faced over many years, indeed over many decades.
Since you refer to the surgical strikes, it was our assessment at that point of time that there was an imminent threat based on hard intelligence about the location of armed terrorists who were ready to infiltrate across the LOC and carry out terrorist activities
on our side. This imminent threat was successfully neutralized through the surgical strikes.
We should not look only at what happened, but also at what did not happen, what was prevented through successful neutralization of terrorists.
We are awaiting detailed information on the specifics of the Nagrota attack before we decide on our next step, but I do wish to emphasize that the government takes this incident very seriously and will do what it feels is required for our national security.
Question: Vikas, taking this forward, today Nafees Zakariain Pakistan has spoken in a routine press conference confirming Sartaj Aziz’s visit for Heart of Asia. And he has said that the India has been imposing conditions
in the dialogue process between the two countries and Pakistan would be ready for any kind of unconditional dialogue during Heart of Asia at the sidelines of the same. He also said that it was India who scuttled the SAARC process. How does the MEA reacts on
this?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Well, it was not India that scuttled the SAARC process.As you know, all SAARC member countries unanimously wrote to the SAARC chair which is Nepal, telling them that in the current
atmosphere in which one country is fomenting cross-border terrorism, interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, it would not be possible or conducive to hold the SAARC Summit. So, let us dismiss that particular charge straight out of the park.
Now, as far as the first part of your question is concerned, as we had informed you yesterday during the curtain raiser for the Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference meeting in Amritsar, that we have not received any request from Pakistan for a bilateral meeting.
India has always been open to talks, but obviously it cannot be that talks take place in an atmosphere of continued terrorism.
India will never accept continued terrorism as the new normal of the bilateral relationship. Let me make that very clear.
Question: But the way you are talking to the High Commissioner of Pakistan off and on by summoning him,raising the issue of terrorism and cross-border menace that is happening in India. Was it not an opportune moment that
when Mr. Sartaj Aziz is here to give him also some good words?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Look, it is one thing for you to have a dialogue, it is another thing to have a dialogue with a particular purpose. As far as we're concerned, the primary reason for the current
state of India Pakistan relations is the continued cross-border terrorism from Pakistan. The sooner Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism, the sooner bilateral relations can come back on track.
We have always been open to dialogue with Pakistan.It is India which has taken all the initiatives to have dialogue with Pakistan.It was India which invited the Prime Minister of Pakistan for the swearing-in ceremony of the new government. It was India which
went to Islamabad and proposed the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue. It was the Indian Prime Minister who made the unscheduled visit to Lahore, so anyone who says that we have shied away from dialogue or we have not wanted dialogue is completely off the mark.
But what have we got in return for those overtures? We have got repeated instances of attacks on our security forces, attacks on our civilians. And that is what we are saying, we will never accept continued cross-border terrorism as the new normal of the India
Pakistan bilateral relationship.
When Pakistan says talks should be without the conditions, we also say the same thing.All we are saying is stop cross-border terrorism and the talks can happen.
Question: Yesterday the Pakistan government, put out a transcript of the conversation that took place between Mr. Nawaz Sharif and Mr. Donald Trump which seems to mention a lot about fantastic people, fantastic country,
wanting to visit them. What is India's view of the new administration in the US, your expectations when it comes to the region and terrorism emanating from Pakistan?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Look, in so far as the fantastic conversation is concerned, I've already seen a bit of a rejoinder from the US side, so I would reserve my judgment.We have only seen a one-sided
version of that conversation. That conversation does talk about, you know, the President-elect willing to resolve outstanding issues of Pakistan. Well, we believe that the most outstanding of the outstanding issues is Pakistan's continued support to cross-border
terrorism. To that extent, we would welcome a dialogue between the US and Pakistan to resolve that particular issue.
As far as the incoming administration’s views on various issues is concerned, I do not think it would be appropriate for us to comment on them till the new administration actually takes over.
Question: Sir George Yeo recently resigned as Chancellor of Nalanda University saying that he was not being consulted on important decision making process. Don’t you think this is yet another blatant interference in the
matters of a Centre of Excellence?And really in an unrelated query, what is Sartaj Aziz….
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: No, please. I allow multiple questions when we have the special briefings, but in regular briefings, I am sorry, one question only.
You have asked about the developments pertaining to Nalanda University. Now I know that there have been a number of reports on this entire issue so let me take this opportunity to clarify the current situation and the legal regime under which the events have
taken place.
As you know, a proposal for the revival of Nalanda University was initiated by the government in 2007 and the Nalanda Mentor Group (NMG) was formed for taking forward this proposal. Subsequently, the Nalanda University Act of 2010 was passed by the Parliament
and it came into force in November of that year i.e. November 2010.
Initially, the Nalanda Mentor Group formed in 2007 was meant to discharge the functions of the Governing Board pending formation of a proper Governing Board according to the provisions of the Act. As the mentor group had been functioning for nine years and
the act provided for a three-year tenure for its members, it was decided to constitute the board in accordance with the Nalanda Act.
The last time the mentor's group tenure was extended was on 25 November 2013, making it three years since then. So on November 21 the President of India in his capacity as the Visitor of the Nalanda University approved the constitution of the Governing Board
of the University in accordance with section 7 of the Nalanda University Act of 2010.
Let me emphasize that this is the first time since the Act was passed that a Governing Board has been properly constituted as per its provisions. The details of the members of the Governing Board, I'm sure are already available with you.
Finally, the President has also approved that upon completion of the extended term of the current Vice Chancellor, which expired on 24th of November and in the absence of a new Vice Chancellor being appointed on or before 26 November, the senior most Dean may
be temporarily appointed to discharge the duties of the Vice Chancellor. This will be a stop-gap measure until the new Vice Chancellor is appointed.
We have great respect for Mr.George Yeo and for his contributions to Nalanda University. However these decisions were taken so that for the first time the University would be in full compliance with the legal regime under which it was created. So I hope that
clarifies the matter.
Question: Sir, this time this is regarding the Katchatheevu matter actually. There is this Church opening on December 07, and for that day Indian fishermen should not come to the Church opening. Regarding that Tamil Nadu
government has written a letter to Ministry of External Affairs. So have you received that letter? If yes, what would be the stand on that?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: I will have to check on this and get back to you. As far as I know Katchatheevu is a sub-judice matter because it is with the Supreme Court.
Question: Sir, High Commissioner Basit today said that Pakistan is willing for talks and also for joint investigation on cases like Uri. He has distinguished Uri from Pathankot attack because he said that after Uri, even
without an investigation India blamed Pakistan and India has continued to blame Pakistan whenever these cross-border incidents have happened. Would India be willing to go for a joint investigation on Uri?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Look, as I said, this has happened in the past also if you look at the transcript of my previous briefings. Pakistan called for an international inquiry. We said we are happy with
your own domestic enquiry. When we are giving you fingerprints, the DNA of the terrorists who we believe have come from Pakistan, why can't Pakistan match them against its own national database. That would be the simplest thing to do, but Pakistan refuses
to do that and instead engages in these pure propaganda ploys.
If Pakistan is serious then let them first bring to book those responsible for the Mumbai terror attack. Let them share with us the investigation into the Pathankot terror attack for which a joint investigation team even came from Pakistan.
Question: Sir, Can I just go back to Nalanda. I don't think anyone is pointing fingers at the legality of what happened vis-à-vis the appointment of the governing board, but one of the concerns that Mr.George Yeo has articulated
is that he wasn't even consulted or informed about the whole process and nor was anyone else at the university.Now, I get this, I don’t think there is any illegality in that, I don’t think there is an illegal requirement, but do you feel that perhaps the whole
process could have been handled in a more sensitive manner to avoid what could, some fear, have implications for the international reputation of the whole process that's so important to India?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: Look, all I would say is that the Visitor's approval and his instructions on the constitution of the new board were received on Monday and communicated as quickly as possible on
the same day.
Question: Did Mr. Modi talked to Mr. Trump already?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: You are behind the times.He was one of the first foreign leaders to call Mr. Trump.He had a telephone conversation with him and he also tweeted about it and I also retweeted those.
Question: Again Nalanda. Mr. Yeo while putting in his papers has said that he was promised full autonomy which was not really given to him. He has complained about this. Do you think this is without any basis, his complaint?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: The thing is, that what the President has done is to bring the functioning of the Nalanda University in compliance with the Nalanda University Act of 2010. This is the very first
time that a Governing Board has been constituted as provided for, in the Act.Before this, it was really an ad-hoc arrangement. So if we bring legality to a set up and that legality is in accordance with the law as passed by Parliament, I don't think how anybody
can have any issues with that?
Question: Sir, with General Raheel Sharif now out of office, do you think that a new chapter can begin? Is India prepared to give Pakistan a fresh chance and when Mr. Aziz comes for the Heart of Asia Conference, though
you have said that as of now there is no proposal for a bilateral meeting.Is there any possibility at all that he may meet Mr. Arun Jaitley who would be representing India, for an informal meeting on the sidelines?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: I think I speak pretty clear English and what I said, I think, is very clear. So I will not revisit what I spoke on the possibility of a bilateral. On the first part of your question,
well you know, changes of the Army Chief etc. are internal matters of Pakistan, but we will judge Pakistan by its behavior and its track record and not by its personnel changes.
Question: Is there any proposal of bilateral talks with China during Heart of Asia,especially on the issue of Masood Azhar?
Official Spokesperson, Shri Vikas Swarup: I'm told China is represented at an Assistant Minister level. So I do not know what the equivalence will be. Whether China will seek a bilateral or not? So I'm not in a position
to say whether or not there will be a bilateral.
I think that concludes all the questions, so thank you all.
(Concludes)