Publish Date: | Thu, 03 Mar 2022 04:17 PM (IST)
Ukraine Crisis: A meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Foreign Affairs was held in the midst of the Russo-Ukraine war, in which External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed the opposition leaders about India’s stand on the issue and efforts to expel Indian citizens . In his presentation, he told that our first priority is to bring back Indian students safely. Rahul Gandhi also participated in this meeting on behalf of Congress. In this meeting, which lasted for about two and a half hours, the lawmakers of the opposition parties agreed on the government’s stand on the Ukraine crisis. Congress leaders also supported the government’s stand to abstain from voting in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that nine MPs from six political parties participated in the meeting. Apart from him, Rahul Gandhi and Anand Sharma were present from the Congress side. Good discussions took place during the meeting in a cordial atmosphere. We are all Indians when it comes to national interests, he said. Shashi Tharoor also thanked Dr. S. Jaishankar for giving clear answers to the questions and concerns of the MPs.
Excellent meeting of Consultative Committee on External Affairs this morning on Ukraine. My thanks to Dr S Jaishankar&his colleagues for a comprehensive briefing & candid responses to our questions & concerns. This is the spirit in which foreign policy should be run: Shashi Tharoor pic.twitter.com/SOdoU97hq4
— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2022
After the meeting, External Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar said that strategic and humanitarian aspects were discussed well in the meeting of the Advisory Committee. By the way, in the meeting, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of China and Pakistan coming closer to Russia, but he also stressed on giving priority to the safe return of Indian students. According to sources in the Ministry of External Affairs, Congress leaders also said that the government was late in reacting to Ukraine. At the same time, the guidelines of the government were also confusing. To this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made it clear that the students being expelled from Ukraine had doubts about their educational status, and the Ukrainian government was continuously giving assurances.
Rahul Gandhi raised issue of China & Pakistan getting closer to Russia but he said priority is to evacuate students from Ukraine right now. Congress leaders said that we were late in reaction & advisories were confusing: Sources on MEA consultative committee meeting
(Pic: EAM) pic.twitter.com/1nQG0Axsay
— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2022
On the other hand, the Russian army continues to attack Ukraine. An alert has been issued in 15 cities of Ukraine and people have been appealed to stay at home. On Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution condemning Russia. On this resolution, 141 votes were cast against Russia, while 5 votes were in support. At the same time, 35 countries including India did not participate in it. After the UNSC, in the UNGA also, India kept itself away from the proposal by remaining absent. The opposition has shown solidarity with this stand of the government.
Posted By: Shailendra Kumar