Dr V Anantha Nageswaran appointed new Chief Economic Advisor ::::::: India willing to engage with Pak on 'visits' to religious shrines

The Government has appointed Dr V. Anantha Nageswaran as the Chief Economic Advisor and today, he has assumed charge.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Nageswaran has worked as a writer, author, teacher and consultant. He has taught at several business schools and institutes of management in India and in Singapore and has published extensively.

He was the Dean of the IFMR Graduate School of Business and a distinguished Visiting Professor of Economics at Krea University. 

He has also been a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India from 2019 to 2021. 

He holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and a doctoral degree from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

New Delhi

The government of India has a 'positive approach' on matters pertaining to mutual visits to religious 
shrines by people from India and Pakistan and is open to engaging with Islamabad on this. 

"Let me underline that India has a positive approach on this matter and is willing to engage the Pakistani 
side," MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi told reporters at a virtual media briefing. 

He said, "As you are aware, under the 1974 Protocol between India and Pakistan, visits to religious shrines 
are being facilitated regularly. There is an interest on both sides to expand the agreed list of shrines 
and mode of travel. It naturally needs to be discussed under the Protocol".

However, he said, "You are also aware that currently restrictions are in place on movement and gatherings in 

view of the Covid-19 pandemic. As the situation normalizes, we expect that this time can be utilised to hold 

discussions under the bilateral Protocol". 

"It is our hope to facilitate early exchange of visits to all shrines of interest to pilgrims".

On the death of four Indians along the US-Canada border, MEA spokesman Bagchi said,

"Our Missions in Canada and USA have been following regularly this tragic case of death of 

four people whose bodies were recovered near the Canada-US border in Manitoba in Canada on 

January 19". 

"The Canadian authorities have confirmed that all four who perished were Indian nationals who 

belonged to one family. The next of kin of the deceased have now been informed," he said.

The Canadian authorities have also informed that based on the circumstances, the death of all 

the persons have been determined to be consistent with exposure to the 

outdoor elements. 

"Our High Commission in Ottawa and our Consulate General in Toronto are working closely with the 

Canadian authorities on all aspects of the investigation and providing consular services 

to the family of the deceased," Bagchi said. 

ends