Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Good Afternoon, Thank you for joining us for the regular media briefing of the Ministry of External Affairs. I don't have an announcement, so I'll open the floor for questions, if there are any, okay…why don’t we start with you.
Kavita Joshi: Good afternoon Sir, main Kavita Joshi hoon Haribhoomi Newspaper se. Sir mera sawal ye hain ki abhi jo 4 July ko SCO ka jo Summit hone wala hai, pahle India ki taraf se ye kaha gaya tha ki ya Summit jo hain to in person hoga, aur iske liye invitation bhi isi tarah se gaye the, aur in fact ye bhi khabrain media mai samne aayi hain ki Foreign Secretary ne Rashtrapati Bhawan ka inspection bhi kar liya tha event ko le kar ke. Toh ek dum se at a moment isko ab virtual organize karne ke liye matlab phir annoucment hua mantralay ki taraf se, toh kya reason hain, matlab kya lagta hain ki jo SCO ki jo Member countries hain khas taur se China, Pakistan inki taraf se koi pressure tha, matlab ek dum se itna bada event hai isko change karne ka decision kyu liya gaya?
[Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] Good afternoon, Sir. I am Kavita Joshi from Haribhoomi Newspaper. Sir, my question is regarding the upcoming SCO Summit scheduled for the fourth of July. Initially, it was announced by India that the Summit would be held in person, and invitations were sent accordingly. In fact, there were reports in the media that the Foreign Secretary had inspected the Rashtrapati Bhawan in preparation for the event. However, suddenly there was an announcement from the Ministry that the Summit would be organized virtually. So, what are the reasons behind this decision? What do you think? Was there any pressure from SCO Member countries, especially China and Pakistan, that led to such a significant event being changed?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Okay, anybody else has questions related to SCO?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Anybody else? That's separate, if you have a separate way please ask.
Speaker: In a different way I want to ask this question.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Same question?
Speaker: Is it because that G15 Summit is being held, so --
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: G15?
Speaker: G20, meeting is being held so was there any --
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Is there any link to G20? Okay. Anybody else on SCO…any other elements of this? Okay please Niraj, microphone.
Niraj: Sir, agar in person meeting ki taiyari chal rahi thi to kya inme se China, Russia aur Pakistan ke jo pramukh the unke sath dwipakshiy batchit ki taiyari thi, koi schedule banaya ja raha tha?
[Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] Sir, if preparations were underway for an in-person meeting, was there any scheduling or preparation being done for bilateral discussions with the leaders of China, Russia, and Pakistan?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Okay. Let me try to answer this question on SCO because I think there's a lot of interest, jaise aapne kaha. Dekhiye SCO Summit ke bare mai, yeah I will say that in English also if you would like okay but she's asked in Hindi and it is behoves me to answer it. Dekhiye SCO Summit ke bare mai aapne kuch comment kiya jo mujhe nahi samajh aaya, humne to kabhi announce kabhi nahi kiya tha ki ye physical hoga. Aapne kaha ki physical humne announce kiya tha, taiyari ho rahi thi, bahot kuch kaha jo humne, mujhe to malum nahi, gyat nahi, ki humne kaha hain ye. Dekhiye kafi international Summits jo hain abhi recent time mai virtual mode mai ho chuki hain, ho rahi hain, toh sare jo factors ko dekhne ke baad aur ye koi single factor nahi tha, multitude of factors hain, humne phir decide kiya ki ye jo Summit hogi, SCO Summit usko best isi virtual mode mai kiya jaye, aur isko safal banane ke liye taiyariyan chal rahi hain aur hum confident hain ki ye accha rahega, ye successful rahega. Aisa koi particular decision nahi liya gaya tha, na mujhe gyat hain ki humne specifically koi physical Summit ke liye bulaya tha. Abhi formally sabko humne kaha hain ki virtual mode mai hoga 4 tarikh ko, aur hum apeksha yahi karte hain ki sab join kar payenge.
You had mentioned in English so let me just try to paraphrase that, look as you're aware a lot of many international Summits in recent years have taken place in the virtual format, so taking all factors into account and there's no single factor, it's a totality of various factors, we decided that the forthcoming Summit of the SCO is best also done in the same manner, that is virtual. Preparations for the successful organizing and holding of this Summit are underway and we are confident that it will produce notable outcomes, it will be a success. There were queries about we had already announced that it will be in physical format, I am not aware of any such announcement or anything that in nature. We have now communicated to SCO partners about this event being held in virtual format on 4th of July and we look forward. Our expectation is that everybody would be able to join.
Niraj ji aapka prashna tha ki agar hota to hum kya karte, bilateral mei, toh jab hoga toh bata payenge. Abhi to virtual mai hi hoga, usme koi bilateral ki gunjaish nahi hain.
[Answer in English: Approximate translation] Niraj ji, your question was what we would have done if it had taken place bilaterally. We would have informed you about that if it would have happened. But now, it will be held virtually, and there is no provision for bilateral discussions in that format.
Okay moving on to other topics. Yeah, okay now you raised your hand first, I'll come back to you.
Ayushi: Sir Ayushi from ANI. Sir, just wanted to follow up on the case of the Indian baby stranded in German foster care. Any update on her repatriation process? We also saw that Maharashtra CM has written to EAM Jaishankar and the mother is currently in Delhi, is she holding any meetings with any official?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Who else was there? Related to that, go ahead.
Speaker: Sir they have also asked for the appointment with the EAM, so if you can share a bit of details how and in which way further...
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: If you don't introduce yourself, you're not on record.
Urvashi: Sir, I am Urvashi. So my question is related to the...
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Appointment with the EAM, I got that question. Any other related question before move to anything else? Okay, Yeshi, go ahead.
Yeshi Seli: This is Yeshi Seli from the New Indian Express. Dr. Jaishankar is going to Namibia. Are there any more cheetahs that he's going to talk about…are they going to come to India? And secondly this BRICS friends meet, which all countries are a part of that and you know, there were reports that he had met the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister yesterday. So is BRICS going to expand? Are they going to be more Members?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: It's a very different question. So is that your question?
Yeshi Seli: Yes, thats my question.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Okay, who had a hand up? Okay yeah, go ahead, I'll come to you.
Pia Krishnankutty: Good afternoon. This is Pia Krishnankutty with ThePrint. I have two questions...
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Let's start with one, this is a regular briefing.
Pia Krishnankutty: Does the MEA have any comment on the ongoing power struggle that's unfolding in the Afghan embassy in New Delhi and two...
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: I presume that's your characterization of it, not mine, but anyway just clarifying.
Pia Krishnankutty: Yes there's a man called Qadir Shah who has been appointed by the Taliban and he's no longer providing services to the Embassy. So if you have any comment on that, that will be appreciated and the second is the BRICS foreign ministers joint statement that was released today noted the appreciation for relevant proposals of mediation and peace for ending the Ukraine war. So does that mean that India supports or endorses China's 12-point peace plan for Ukraine that it had released earlier in February? Thank you.
Niraj: Niraj News18 India se. Sir abhi bhartiya dutawas ko bhi access nahi diya gaya hain aur unke pariwar wale milna chahte hai videsh mantri se, kya koi.. wo bhartiya dutawas ko access...
[Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] Niraj from News18 India. Sir, currently, the Indian Embassy has not been granted access, and their family Members want to meet the Foreign Minister.
Mukesh Kaushik: After freezing visa of three Indian journalists out of four, China is accusing now that there would be a zero correspondent left in Delhi and both countries would not be having any journalists to cover each other's matter. So what is your comment on Chinese acquisition and secondly would you be issuing...special visas for Chinese journalists for G20 meeting?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: If you could introduce yourself although I know.
Mukesh Kaushik: Mukesh Kaushik from Dainik Bhaskar.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Okay let me try to answer a set of questions. Which one? related? Okay please take the mic.
Aparajit Chakraborty: Aparajit Chakraborty from China Daily. China has also sought cooperation from India to resume normal life and work of journalists from both countries. So what would you say on it?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Let me take the case of the baby who is in Germany. Look, let me read out our perspective in this. You know we have been addressing this. It is an important issue, a sensitive one. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Embassy of India, Berlin have been persistently advocating for the return of Ariha Shah to India. The child is an Indian national and she was placed in the custody of Germany's Youth Welfare Office of the (Jugendamt) on 23rd September 2021, when she was seven months old. She has now been in foster care for more than 20 months. Our efforts have been guided by the best interests of the child, which we believe can be fully realized only when she is in her home country, where her socio-cultural rights can be safeguarded. Accordingly, we have been requesting Germany to return the child to India. Our Embassy has been repeatedly requesting German authorities to ensure that Ariha's connection with our cultural, religious and linguistic background is not compromised and has sought consular access to the child, as well as cultural immersion at the Indian Cultural Centre in Berlin. German Foreign Minister Her Excellency Ms. Annalena Baerbock, as you would recall during her visit to India, had also conveyed that the German side was and I quote, "also bearing in mind the cultural identity of each child that is taken care of by the youth offices in Germany". Unfortunately, our requests in this regard for safeguarding Ariha's national and cultural identity have not been met. We are dismayed to learn that the child was abruptly shifted away from her current foster parent to a specialized foster care arrangement. The manner in which this shift was carried out is a matter of concern. We and the parents believe that this rapid change is not in the child's best interest and could have far-reaching consequences for her emotional and mental development. India has a robust child welfare and protection system and there are potential foster parents in India who are willing to bring up the child in her own socio-cultural milieu. The German authorities have been made aware of India's child protection system and the details of potential foster parents have also been shared with them. Ariha's continued placement in German foster care and infringement of her social, cultural and linguistic rights is of deep concern to the Government of India and to the parents. We would like to reiterate that Ariha Shah is an Indian national and her nationality and socio-cultural background is the most important determinant of where her foster care is to be provided. We urge German authorities to do all that is necessary to send Ariha to India at the earliest, which is also her inalienable right as an Indian national. We remain committed to ensuring the return of Ariha Shah to India. That is a statement that I have with me. As regards the details of meeting EAM or not, we are in touch with the family. As you know, External Affairs Minister is currently overseas. She is in contact with our Europe West division and other authorities. And as I said, we will continue to take this up with the German authorities. I hope that answers most of the questions related to this unfortunate episode.
Moving on, I think there was question. Yeshi, your question was regards the BRICS meetings there. Look, there are two aspects…or three actually you end up asking. On the cheetahs, no, I have nothing to say. We have issued a statement about External Affairs Minister's visit to Namibia, expected to be a successful visit and we look forward to the conversation that he will have. Yes, we have had from Namibia cheetahs that have come here, but I would be surprised if that is, you know, more cheetahs on the plane back. No, I don't think that's what's on the cards. As regards the BRICS friends meet, look, let me... let the South Africans list that friends list. They are the ones who invited them. You would have seen the names from the conversation, but the meeting is today. So let me not comment on it before the meeting takes place. I think it's a little while from now. As regards the issue of expansion, you would have heard External Affairs Minister himself yesterday…I think it was, when he talked about in his statement…where he talked about approaching this positively from a positive frame of mind. I would also refer you to, I think it was paragraph 73 of the Beijing declaration, where we said that we support promoting discussion among BRICS Members on BRICS expansion process and stress the need to clarify the guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures for this expansion through the Sherpas channel, on the basis of full consultation and consensus. I think that position is shared by all BRICS Members and we will continue to have these consultations on issues such as not just expansion, but also on institutional strengthening of BRICS. I think that has been the discussions in South Africa. But again, the meeting is still going on, so let me not prejudge anything beyond that.
Pia, your question was, as you described, as I think a power struggle, which I am not willing to characterize. But let me just say that from our perspective, this is an internal matter of the Afghan Embassy and we hope that they would resolve it internally.
Moving on to a question that you had asked about joint statement in the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting….look, it does express support to mediation efforts that are going on. I would not be sure whether to characterize the peace plan that you have referred to as a mediation effort or not. But those countries that are making the mediation efforts, we have always supported the idea of finding a way forward through diplomacy and dialogue. And any mediation effort that works in that direction, of course, would be welcome. But I would not like to specifically characterize any one initiative or otherwise.
Niraj ji aapka prashna bhi usimai tha, maine jo pucha tha ki embassy mai…jaise maine kaha hum wahan ke German authorities ke sath contact mai hain aur hamari jo position hain wo clear kar di hain humne.
[Answer in English: Approximate translation] Niraj ji, your question was also related to that. As I mentioned, we are in contact with the German authorities and we have clarified our position.
Speaker: (Inaudible)
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Maine abhi kaha ki videsh mantri abhi bahar hain aur yahan hamare mantralaya ke log…officers wo contact mai hain, hum log jo sahayata de sakte hain wo hum de rahain hain.
[Answer in English: Approximate translation] I just mentioned that the Foreign Minister is currently abroad, and the officials from our Ministry are in contact with them. We are providing whatever assistance we can.
Mukesh, your question was on the journalists issues for…I think, Indian and Chinese journalists. Look, let me…I mean, I have seen some media reports on it, so I don't know exactly what you have in mind. And your question was zero Chinese journalists or something. So let me not go to individual cases. I hesitate talking about for various reasons of privacy, otherwise that I don't want to comment on it. Let me just say all foreign journalists, including Chinese journalists, have been pursuing journalist activities in India, without any limitations or difficulties in reporting or in doing their media coverage. Meanwhile, Indian journalists in China have been operating with certain difficulties, such as not being permitted to hire locals as correspondents or as journalists. As you know, foreign media in India here can and do freely hire local journalists to work for their bureaus in India. We also are aware that Indian journalists face several restrictions, that is, Indian journalists in China face several restrictions while getting access and traveling locally within China. Indian side supports and facilitates foreign journalists in India, and I am sure you can attest to it, those of you who are foreign journalists here. At the same time, there should be no deviations from normal journalistic behavior and activities or from the provisions governing journalist visas that are issued to journalists. We would hope that Chinese authorities facilitate the continued presence of Indian journalists in working and reporting from China, and the two sides continue to remain in touch regarding this issue. So I think that would be our position. As regards your query about any visas for G20, look….we have been holding G20 meetings, as you know, and foreign journalists have been attending that. Those who are accredited here, they have also registered and accredited themselves, but journalists coming from abroad also, there is special accreditation open for that, and visas are issued for that specific purpose. So I think we will certainly be doing that for the G20 Summit.
I think, Aparajit Chakraborty, your question was also on this, and I think you are…I have covered my statement to your response.
Okay, moving on, any further questions? Kallol, please.
Kallol: Sir, there are protests taking place in Nepal and also an official protest has come from Pakistan about the mural of the undivided India or Akhand Bharat that is in the new parliament building of India. They have also pointed out that Prahlad Joshiji has referred to the map and said there is a clear resolve for India to regain Akhand Bharat or undivided India. So what's your official position on regaining Akhand Bharat?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Is that a foreign policy issue?
Kallol: No, I am asking you.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: On the mural part I am willing to answer.
Kallol: Yeah, the foreign policy issue as well.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: I doubt it. Okay. Anybody else? Ileana.
Ileana: Yes, Ileana TASS. Yesterday Foreign Ministers of Russia and India had a bilateral meeting in Cape Town. We had…
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Sorry, could you repeat?
Ileana: Bilateral meeting.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Between?
Ileana: Lavrov and Jaishankar.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Ah, okay.
Ileana: So we had some information from Twitter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of India. So can you maybe give some more information? What can be read between the lines in this message by your Minister? And if the Ministers discussed the preparation for G20 Summit in the light of this warrant order from International Criminal Court to Russian President.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Sorry, could you repeat the last part? They discussed the G20…
Ileana: G20 Summit preparations for G20 Summit.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Yes, that I understand. What is the last part?
Ileana: And I mean that we…
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Warrant you said?
Ileana: Yeah. Order…order from International Criminal Court.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: I didn't get your full question but I will try to answer it. Okay. Any other query? Okay. Let me try with you first.
Speaker: This is a follow up on the Afghan question. You characterized it as an internal matter. I just wanted to know if the MEA would be renewing Mr. Qadir Shah, the alleged Taliban appointee, as Chargé d'Affaires, will the MEA be extending or renewing his visa which reportedly expired on 12th?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: And in what capacity are you asking this question? It's a privacy issue, it's a diplomatic, why would I get into it? I have said what I have to say on that issue. I have nothing further to add.
Speaker: Because you had mentioned it's an internal matter but there is still a visa that's been…
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: True, we will do whatever is required. As you know…just a general comment, I don't think any Afghan citizens who are here…their visas have been renewed as we have a larger policy, not with the diplomatic. So I don't want to get into the diplomatic aspect. Any other questions? Yes.
Speaker: Is there any possibility of bilateral meeting between EAM Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Where?
Speaker: In BRICS.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: You do know that the Chinese Foreign Minister is not in South Africa. He didn't go. He's not there. As far as I know he didn't attend. There was somebody else who represented China. So I'm not aware. I don't think such a meeting is possible. Okay, I will close with that set of questions.
Let me take your question first Ileana. Look, I don't have anything else to add. Maybe Minister Lavrov would have shared some readout of his meeting. Our Minister has given a good sense of the meeting. Till he comes back, I certainly would not be able to add to that. I would be able to guess, that yes, G20 preparations would have been a topic, but I'm just purely guessing considering that it's an important issue and we are the Presidency of G20 and we would hope that the Russians would be there. So maybe this came up, but I'm guessing here and I don't like doing that. But as regards the ICC…look, we are not a state party to their Rome statutes. So I don't think this is an issue that I can comment on. I don't think we are involved in it in any which way.
Kallol, on regarding your query…look, you mentioned two or three different issues. Let me just try to answer the simple part because other parts I am not…this question was asked yesterday in the context of the Foreign Secretary's briefing on the Nepalese Prime Minister's visit and whether this was raised. It wasn't raised. So I don't know if the protests are still going on. Certainly the Nepalese side did not raise it. I haven't seen any official protests for Pakistan, at least maybe I just missed it, maybe it's come today. But I don't know if it's official protests or not. Yeah, I don't know. Is the Pakistanis put it out? I missed it. Look, let me just make a simple point here. The mural in question, I understand the mural in question depicts the spread of the Ashokan Empire and the idea of responsible and people-oriented governance that he adopted and propagated. That's what the mural and the plaque in front of the mural says. And I really don't have anything further to add to that. I'm certainly not going to comment on statements that other political leaders might have made.
I think that was…I think I answered most of the questions. Thank you very much. Thanks for joining for this weekly media briefing. Good evening.