'Op. Ganga' goes massive, 18 flights a day : India assessing sanctions 'impact'
SWIFT, which stands for the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, is a messaging system that allows banks around the globe to securely and quickly communicate about cross-border payments.
It is widely used. There are about 11,000 member banks in 200 countries and territories that use SWIFT.
In fact, Financial transactions of Indian banks with Russian lenders have come to an abrupt halt after the expulsion of some Russian banks from the Swift international financial messaging network.
New Delhi
"Operation Ganga carries on. 18 flights coming in today," tweeted External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Thursday.
MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi said that a total of 18,000 Indian national had left Ukraine since first advisory issued by India.
Bagchi also said that 30 flights till Thursday evening have brought 6400 Indians back to India.
The 'Operation Ganga' was launched to bring back citizens from Ukraine which has come under unprecedented Russian military attack precipitating a massive global crisis.
The MEA spokesman also said that India is seeking safe passage for its citizens from both the Ukrainian
and Russian authorities.
"We have been pressing all sides, both Russian and Ukrainian for the safe passage of our citizens. If the Russians
have a solution to a corridor. That is great. That is the way to go but as I say we have some indications of a way out from southwest of Kharkiv. We took that. We are continuing to press all sides," he said replying to a question during
a special media briefing.
To a question on SWIFT sanctions, the MEA spokesman said, "Let us see the fine print. Let us see what
exactly is happening then we will know how much it impacts us".
He clarified the fresh sanctions imposed on Russia and some its leaders post Feb 24 attack on
Umraine is not related to India.
"It is another country. If and how it impacts us. Then we will see. I have nothing to say at this point".
Meanwhile, sources said all students coming from Ukraine must get vaccinated against Covid19 immediately if not
already done so.
In Kota in Rajasthan, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla arranged a call for the parents of a student, who thanked
External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar for the safe evacuation of their daughter from Ukraine.
"It is a very good effort of the central government that many Indian students are able to return home.
For this we thank the government," the father of the student told Dr Jaishankar over phone.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri who landed in Hungary to help smoother and faster evacuation
of Indians had an "excellent productive meeting" with Peter Szzijarto, Minister for Foreign Affairs and
Trade of Hungary.
Hungary has facilitated repatriation of over 2000 students already and are helping Indians in every way,
tweeted Mr Puri.
In the meantime in response to media queries regarding reports of Indian students being held hostage
in Ukraine, MEA spokesperson Bagchi said: "Our Embassy in Ukraine is in continuous touch with Indian nationals
in Ukraine. We have not received any reports of any hostage situation regarding any student. We have requested
support of the Ukrainian authorities in arranging special trains for taking out students from Kharkiv and
neighbouring areas to the western part of the country".
He said the government of India has been coordinating effectively with the countries in the region including
Russia, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova.
" A large number of Indian nationals have been evacuated from Ukraine in the last few days.
We appreciate the help extended by the Ukrainian authorities to make this possible," he said.
ends
PM #Modi reiterates importance of adhering to the #UN Charter, respect for sovereignty & territorial integrity in #QuadSummit. Says need to return to path of #dialogue & diplomacy. Leaders also discuss #ASEAN, Indian Ocean region & #Pacific Islands.
The leaders agreed to stay in touch and to work towards an ambitious agenda for the forthcoming Leaders’ Summit in Japan
PM underlined that Quad must remain focused on its objective of promoting peace & prosperity in Indo-Pacific region. He called for concrete forms of cooperation within Quad, in areas like Humanitarian & Disaster Relief, debt sustainability, supply chains & capacity-building.
The meeting reviewed the progress on Quad initiatives since the September 2021 Quad Summit. The leaders agreed on accelerating cooperation, with an objective to achieve concrete outcomes by the summit in Japan later this year.
(PMO statement)
Prime Minister participated today at a virtual summit of Quad leaders, along with US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The meeting reviewed the progress on Quad initiatives since the September 2021 Quad Summit. The leaders agreed on accelerating cooperation, with an objective to achieve concrete outcomes by the summit in Japan later this year.
Prime Minister underlined that the Quad must remain focused on its core objective of promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. He called for concrete and practical forms of cooperation within the Quad, in areas like Humanitarian and Disaster Relief, debt sustainability, supply chains, clean energy, connectivity, and capacity-building.
Developments in Ukraine were discussed in the meeting, including its humanitarian implications. The Prime Minister emphasised the need to return to a path of dialogue and diplomacy.
The leaders also discussed other topical issues, including the situation in Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean region and the Pacific Islands. Prime Minister reiterated the importance of adhering to the UN Charter, international law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The leaders agreed to stay in touch and to work towards an ambitious agenda for the forthcoming Leaders’ Summit in Japan.
Path of Dialogue and Diplomacy must, Modi tells Quad leaders
New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has yet again strongly pitched for 'territorial integrity, respect for sovereignty'at the global stage and told the Quad leaders categorically Dialogue and Diplomacy are must to resolve any international challenge.
The Quad leaders PM Modi, US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida "discussed the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and assessed its broader implications".
"They also agreed to stand up a new humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mechanism which will enable the Quad to meet future humanitarian challenges in the Indo-Pacific and provide a channel for communication as they each address and respond to the crisis in Ukraine," a Joint Readout said.
Participating at the virtual meet of Quad top leaders on Thursday, the Prime Minister reiterated the importance of adhering to the UN Charter.
The joint Quad Readout said the leadership met to "reaffirm their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, in which the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states is respected and countries are free from military, economic, and political coercion."
Mr Modi participated at the virtual summit of Quad leaders, along with US President
and Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia and Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida.
"The meeting reviewed the progress on Quad initiatives since the September 2021 Quad Summit. The leaders agreed on accelerating cooperation, with an objective to achieve concrete outcomes by the summit in Japan later this year," a PMO statement said.
"We cannot allow what is happening in Ukraine now to ever happen in the Indo-Pacific," Australian PM Morrison said.
At the meeting, Prime Minister Modi underlined that the Quad must remain focused on its core objective of promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
He called for concrete and practical forms of cooperation within the Quad, in areas like Humanitarian and Disaster Relief, debt sustainability, supply chains, clean energy, connectivity, and capacity-building.
"Developments in Ukraine were discussed in the meeting, including its humanitarian implications. The Prime Minister emphasised the need to return to a path of dialogue and diplomacy," the statement said.
The leaders also discussed other topical issues, including the situation in Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean region and the Pacific Islands.
Mr Modi reiterated the importance of adhering to the UN Charter, international law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The leaders agreed to stay in touch and to work towards an ambitious agenda for the forthcoming Leaders’ Summit in Japan.
"We've agreed that unilateral changes to the status quo with force like this should not be allowed in the Indo-Pacific region," Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, referring to Russia's invasion.
"We've also agreed this development makes it even more important to work toward realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific," Kishida told reporters after the meeting.
ends
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| Earns a mild rebuke: 'India is not Ukraine' |
Big takeaway from MEA meet with MPs on Ukraine : 'We are Indians first'
New Delhi
Unthinkable things happen in Indian politics too. The Consultative meeting of the Members of
Parliament attached to the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday came as a morale booster for the
Modi Government as nine lawmakers from six parties backed New Delhi's decision to abstain
during voting at the UNSC and the UN General Assembly on the Ukraine crisis.
There were two certain takeaways from the two-hour long meeting which has been described as 'good'
and 'excellent' by vocal opposition MPs.
Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor, with considerable experience in handling foreign policy matters, said -
".....a reminder that when it comes to national interests we are all Indians first and foremost".
Another message in effect came from External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar when he said, "India is not Ukraine".
Of course Dr Jaishankar's remarks were provoked by none other Congress leader and MP from the southern state of Kerala - Rahul Gandhi.
One insider said, Rahul Gandhi asked about the impact of Russia's attack on Ukraine and wanted to know if what Russia is doing in Ukraine can become an example even for China in its dealings with India, to which he got a mild snub. --- "India is not Ukraine," retorted suave-diplomat-turned-minister Dr Jaishankar, who has also served in Beijing.
After the meeting, Dr Jaishankar tweeted: "A national consensus on the importance of dialogue and diplomacy.
Thank all members for their participation. Just completed a MEA consultative committee meeting on developments
in Ukraine. A good discussion on the strategic and humanitarian aspects of the issue".
He also wrote: "Strong and unanimous message of support for efforts to bring back all Indians from Ukraine".
Congress lawmaker Tharoor wrote - "Excellent meeting of the Consultative Committee on External Affairs
this morning on Ukraine. My thanks to @DrSJaishankar and his colleagues for a comprehensive briefing and
candid responses to our questions and concerns".
He even recorded his appreciation in public by writing on micro blogging site - "This is the spirit in which
foreign policy should be run."
Nothing could have been more satisfying and understanding and appreciable for the Narendra Modi government
as the opposition parties have been critical of the ruling dispensation's handling of evacuation of Indian citizens and
students from Ukraine.
Tharoor himself has been critical of government's stand on abstaining during voting on Ukraine crisis both at
the UNSC and UNGA.
"Our stand has been that we do not support invading other countries and regime change through violence and war…
After our abstention, many regretted that India had placed itself on the 'wrong side of history'," Tharoor
tweeted last week.
However, he seemed to have seen reasons after the meet wherein Dr Jaishankar briefed the members of
the government's handling of the globally unforeseen crisis after Russia attacked or 'invaded' Ukraine on Feb 24.
"I have declined media requests for comments since the meeting is confidential," he wrote
on Thursday, adding - "However we urged MEA to issue a more detailed statement than usual. The meeting
took place in a constructive spirit and all parties are united in their desire to see our nationals return safely home.
He further wrote - "Nine MPs attended from six political parties. @INCIndia MPs present were
RahulGandhi, Anand Sharma and myself".
"Frank discussions took place in an amicable atmosphere, a reminder that when it comes to national interests
we are all Indians first and foremost".
Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena wrote - "Attended the Consultative Committee meeting chaired by Hon Minister, @DrSJaishankarji. Foreign Secretary @HarshShringla ji briefed us about the situation in Ukraine and the
evacuation efforts made by Govt of India. Thank them for the briefing and all stand united in the efforts to bring
our students back home".
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