New Delhi
India has made it absolutely clear to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the extradition of fugitive wrongdoers is "high priority" for New Delhi.
For his part, PM Johnson too was forthcoming and his words were assuring enough.
“We welcome people who have talent and brilliance coming from India to the UK, we don’t welcome — I want to make it absolutely clear now — we don’t welcome people who want to use our legal system to evade the law here in India. So, let me be absolutely clear about that,” Johnson said at the media briefing.
Briefing reporters, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said, “On the issue of economic offenders, we have been pursuing this matter for some time at different levels with the UK. Our objective is to bring back those economic fugitives wanted in India to face justice in the country, and the matter did come up.It was conveyed that this is a high priority".
He further said, "Prime Minister Johnson indicated that he was very sensitive to Indian concerns".
Vijay Mallya is fighting the extradition case in a UK court, while two others Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi are also facing the legal process.
In total, the Centre, in 2020, said efforts were on to extradite 72 fugitives to India from the UK and other countries. Another accused, Lalit Modi, was last reported to be living in London.
Answering questions from journalists, Shringla said, "I am also responding to the issue of, you mentioned, Khalistani anti-India activists, who take advantage of freedoms that are offered by democracy such as ours. And in that context, I think this point was raised quite clearly and I think Prime Minister Johnson, as I said, took careful note of that".
Mr Johnson said that "he was very sensitive to our concerns in this regard. And that he would have a close look at that. As far as he was concerned there was zero tolerance for such people who create issues and that could impact on the relationship between both our countries", the Foreign Secretary said.
Responding to questions about the extradition of fugitives Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya, Johnson said, “I think there are legal technicalities that have made it very, very difficult but what I can tell you is that the UK government has ordered their extradition and we have said that from our point of view, we want them to be taken back to India for trial".
On Afghanistan, a joint statement said that both sides expressed their serious concern about the humanitarian situation, violations of human rights and the hampered access of girls and women to education. “Both Prime Ministers called upon the Taliban to allow girls to return to secondary school,” the statement said.
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India raises Khalistan issue with British PM Johnson
New Delhi
India on Friday, April 22, raised the issue of Khalistan with British PM Boris Johnson.
At the bilateral talks here after New Delhi flagged off the contentious matter, the visitingdignitary said the United Kingdom is sensitive to India’s concerns and "there will be zero tolerance to this issue".
This was stated by Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla at a special briefing here.
He said, "India welcomes the UK joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative under the maritime security pillar and agreed to cooperate closely in this region towards their shared commitment".
Mr Shringla said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpartalso discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
"PM Modi expressed deep concern over the situation and mounting humanitarian crisis. Mr Modi also reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of violence and conveyed strong advocacy for a peaceful resolution of the situation," the Foreign Secretary said.
The two sides also held discussions on the ongoing Free Trade Agreement negotiations.
"Both sides agreed to enhance corporation in energy, green hydrogen, trade, defense,"Mr Shringla said.
The Foreign Secretary said the issue of 'economic offenders' also figured.
"We have been pursuing this matter for some time at different levels with the UK. Our objective is to bring back those economic fugitives who're wanted in India to face justice in country," he said adding, the matter was discussed during the bilateral talks.
Meanwhile in a Joint Statement, both the Prime Ministers "expressed satisfaction" at the progress in implementation of the ambitious Roadmap 2030 for India-UK future relations.
They also appreciated the regular review of the same by External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar and U K Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss.
"They further mandated their teams to identify high-impact projects for time-bound implementation in each of the pillars of the Roadmap. Both leaders also expressed their desire to steer bilateral relations towards a Vision 2047 for shared security and prosperity of their people and the planet".
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Boris Johnson is in India on diplomatic mission, but backhome he faces challenges
New Delhi
Boris Johnson is on an India visit. It's a key diplomatic mission.
He was in Gujarat on Thursday and on Friday (April 22) he will holdbilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
Johnson at Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar
But back home he faces severe criticism and challenges including repeated call for resignation.
"He is in every sense the minister of chaos," says 'The Atlantic'.
It was reported that after being the "first G7 leader to travel to Kyiv since the Russian invasion", he was no doubt hailed by Volodymyr Zelensky, cheered by Ukrainians in the streets, and even grudgingly praised by his "enemies at home and his critics abroad".
"Yet within 72 hours, he was once again facing calls to resign..,"
A piece in the reputed 'The Guardian' says - "The prime minister (Johnson) has no programme, no strategy, no professed ideology: only a frantic search for survival".
The article penned by Simon Jenkins says - "Whenever challenged, he refers to the war in Ukraine, as if this was Britain’s business. A war is handy for any prime minister.
"Thatcher’s leadership in 1982 was rescued by the Falklands war. David Cameron wanted to go to war in Syria and went to war in Libya. But these prime ministers were conducting or proposing conflicts on their country’s behalf.Ukraine is not Britain’s war, thank goodness".
Johnson is in serious trouble. He faces danger on all fronts - says the piece.
In fact, the British PM Johnson and his government have been the target of unfriendly press even otherwise.
His party colleagues have warned Johnson that he faces being “punished at the polls” unless he acts to
tackle the UK’s cost of living crisis, according to the Daily Mail.
He has issues of privileges committee and 'lying' to parliament. There are elections in May.
As the year began, the British prime minister faced fresh accusations of “corruption” over the funding of his Downing Street flat refurbishment,
"Johnson’s luck may still run out: Britain’s Metropolitan Police is investigating a series of other potentially illegal parties that took place at Downing Street on his watch and could issue more fines, triggering another potentially fatal crisis. Yet, for now at least, he survives.
In one sense, Johnson is simply lucky. The timing of the fine—a paltry £50 ($65)—could hardly have been better for the prime minister. Not only did it come during the Easter break, when Parliament was not sitting and much of the country was on holiday, but it came at the very moment when he was basking in the glory of his visit to Kyiv and the diplomatic success of the hawkish position he has taken toward Russia since Vladimir Putin’s invasion." - Atlantic.com.
Putin claims Mariupol win, Russia bars entry to Kamala Harris,
New Delhi
In a significant turn of events in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, President Vladimir Putin on Thursday claimed victory in the biggest battle of the Ukraine war declaring the port of Mariupol “liberated” after nearly two months of siege.
However, hundreds of defenders were still 'holding out'.
In a televised meeting with his defence minister Sergei Shoigu inside the Kremlin, Putin said there was no need for a final confrontation with the last defenders who were boxed in after surviving nearly two months.
Russia on Thursday also announced expansion of an entry ban on US officials to include US
Vice-President Kamala Harris and 28 other American officials, business giants and journalists.
The sanctions list, published by the Russian foreign ministry, included Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg,
Deputy Defence Secretary Kathleen Hicks and Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby, among others.
“These individuals are denied entry into the Russian Federation indefinitely,” the Russian foreign ministry
said.
According to experts, Putin’s declaration of victory lets him claim his first big prize since his forces were
driven out of northern Ukraine last month after failing to capture the capital, Kyiv.
Russian Defence Minister Shoigu estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters remained inside the plant.
Putin called on them to lay down their weapons and surrender, saying Russia would treat them with respect.
Asked to comment on Russia’s decision to blockade the steel works rather than storm it, Ukraine’s defence ministry spokeswoman said the move testified to Putin’s “schizophrenic tendencies”.
Ukraine, however, scoffed at the idea that a Russian victory in Mariupol was already achieved.
"The Russian agenda now is not to capture these really difficult places where the Ukrainians can hold out in the urban centres, but to try and capture territory and also to encircle the Ukrainian forces and declare a huge victory, retired British Rear Admiral Chris Parry said.
Whodunit ? Any takers, Pakistan sponsors US leader's visit to Pak and PoK
New Delhi
It could sound bizarre but such unthinkable things happen when Pakistan is
involved in any international media craze game. It gets a boost when
the other player(s) is or are - some American intellectuals or lawmakers.
This was the case with Democrat MP Ilhan Omar's visit to Pakistan and then Pakistan occupied Kashmir
(PoK).
The United States did not sponsor her trip ! Who done it ? Well, Pakistan sponsored the trip.
The State Department sounded emphatically clear.
"As I understand it, Representative Omar is not visiting Pakistan on US government-sponsored travel,
so I'd need to refer you to her office for questions on her travel," US State Department spokesman
Ned Price said.
"Unfortunately, we don't have an official comment on this right now, but will let you know if anything
changes," Jacklyn Rogers, press secretary in Ms Omar's office said on Thursday in response to mails
and queries seeking details of her travel plans and sponsors.
What did Pakistan benefit ? A few headlines momentarily.
India on Thursday slammed US Congresswoman Ms Omar's visit to Pakistan-occupied
Jammu and Kashmir.
"This visit is condemnable," MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi told reporters here.
"We have noted that US Representative Ilhan Omar has visited a part of the Indian Union Territory of
Jammu and Kashmir that is currently illegally occupied by Pakistan," he said adding, if such a politician
wishes to practice "her narrow-minded politics at home, that may be her business".
Interestingly, Pakistan had toyed with the idea of enlisting the services of a US leader
at a time when the outgoing dispensation in Islamabad (headed by Imran Khan) made a scathing
attack on Americans for allegedly sponsoring the downfall of Imran's dispensation.
Pakistan always rejoices spreading falsehood and farcical narratives on Kashmir and often
enlists the support of some lawmakers or intellectuals in the west. It has not helped Islamabad's
case.
At the same time some Pakistani leaders and governments have used the Kashmir conflict to
reinforce and strengthen the politics of 'pan-Islamism'.
Pakistani governments have also used the so-called Kashmir issue with India to acquire its own
domestic legitimacy or to ensure regime survival.
An experienced Twin Cities policy analyst, organiser, public speaker and advocate, Omar was sworn into
office in January 2019, making her the first African refugee to become a Member of Congress.
She is also one of the first two Muslim-American women elected to Congress.
She has attracted controversies for her remarks and tweets on Kashmir earlier also.
While 'support' for their spread of terrorism in Kashmir is fairly widespread in Pakistan,
the politically dominant military and the religious parties are the strongest proponents and backers
of the same.
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