External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said efforts are on in Manipur by the State and the central governments to find a way by which a sense of normalcy returns and there is adequate law-and-order enforcement.
"...I think one part of the problem in Manipur has been the destabilising impact of migrants who have come," he said on September 26 at the Council on Foreign Relations in response to a question on the situation in the northeastern State in India.
"But there are also tensions which obviously have a long history which precede that. And today, I think the effort is on the part of the State government and the Union government to find a way by which a sense of normalcy returns, that arms which were seized during that period are recovered, that there is an adequate law-and-order enforcement out there so that incidents of violence don't happen," the Minister said.
Earlier this month, a group of United Nations experts said they are "appalled" by reports and images of violence in Manipur targeting women and girls, and urged the Indian government to take robust action to investigate the incidents and hold the perpetrators to account.
The experts raised an alarm on reports of serious human rights violations and abuses in Manipur, including acts of alleged sexual violence, extrajudicial killings, home destruction, forced displacement, torture and ill-treatment.
India had rejected these comments, calling them "unwarranted, presumptive and misleading”, and asserted that the situation in the State was peaceful.
Mr. Jaishankar was asked about him dismissing these comments as "presumptive".
"The comment wasn't made by me personally but by the spokesperson. Was that comment correct? My answer to you would be yes," he said.
The Minister was also asked about reports by Sweden's V-Dem Institute and the U.S. government-funded NGO Freedom House that had criticised India on freedom and democracy.
Mr. Jaishankar had slammed the two organisations for their "hypocrisy" and called them "self-appointed custodians of the world who find it very difficult to stomach that somebody in India is not looking for their approval".
Responding to the question on this at the CFR event, he said, "I think it answers the question if you would be objective enough to understand it. I think it says very clearly that the people who are writing these reports have a strong bias, often they distort facts. Many of these reports are actually riddled with inaccuracies."
(as reported in 'The Hindu')
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'Veiled attack on Canada ?' :::: We must never again allow an injustice like 'Vaccine apartheid '..... No "cherry picking" on terror or territorial integrity: Dr Jaishankar
In Dr S Jaishankar's nuanced words .... "This (monopoly of the west) cannot go on indefinitely. Nor will it go unchallenged" --- remains the neo-assertiveness of the 'new Bharat'.
"Mr. President, we must never again allow an injustice like vaccine apartheid to recur. Climate action too cannot continue to witness an evasion of historical responsibilities. The power of markets should not be utilized to steer food and energy from the needy to the wealthy," Dr S Jaishankar told UNGA.
"Nor must we countenance that political convenience determines responses to terrorism, extremism and violence. Similarly, respect for territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs cannot be exercises in cherry picking."
Dr Jaishankar's selective phrase -- "Nor must we countenance that political convenience determines responses to terrorism..." -- is largely seen as a veiled attack on Canada and its beleaguered Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
India, which provided COVID-19 vaccines to over 100 countries during the pandemic, told the UN General Assembly that an “injustice like vaccine apartheid” should never again be allowed to recur.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India demonstrated this during the Covid pandemic through the Vaccine Maitri initiative under which it supplied the much-needed and life-saving vaccines to over 100 nations around the world at a time when countries were stockpiling vaccine doses for themselves.
He also said:
"Excellencies, programs underway in India highlight the transformational role of digital delivery of public goods. It has facilitated scaling up, it has enhanced efficiency and it has combated corruption. The national objective of Leaving No One Behind is forging ahead in so many dimensions.
Moreover, the democratization of technology has opened mindsets, instilled confidence and inspired innovations.
"Excellencies, in our deliberations, we often advocate the promotion of a rules-based order. From time to time, respect for the UN Charter is also invoked. But for all the talk, it is still a few nations who shape the agenda and seek to define the norms.
This cannot go on indefinitely. Nor will it go unchallenged.
"A fair, equitable and democratic order will surely emerge, once we all put our minds to it. And for a start, that means ensuring that rule makers do not subjugate rule takers.
"After all, rules will work only when they apply equally to all," (he said possibly in reference to western powers including Canada and US notwithstanding the fact that Washington-New Delhi ties have grown closer in recent times".
"Recently, we hosted the creation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The forging of the Global Biofuels Alliance was another notable development. This willingness to work in an open-minded manner on specific domains is now a defining characteristic of the emerging multipolar order.
Mr. President, all nations pursue their national interests. We, in India, have never seen that as being in contradiction with global good.
When we aspire to be a leading power, this is not for self-aggrandizement but to take on greater responsibility and make more contributions. The goals we have set for ourselves will make us different from all those whose rise preceded ours.
India demonstrated this during the Covid through the Vaccine Maitri initiative. Our endeavors like the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure have gathered wide support. Our espousing of the International Year of Millets is enhancing global food security today.
We have built development partnerships with 78 nations across geographies. We have also been First Responder in disaster emergency situations. The people of Turkiye saw that in February, as did those in Syria.
"Our commitment is understandably even greater, closer home. When Sri Lanka experienced a severe economic crisis, it was India that first stepped forward. But even in distant regions, partners such as the Pacific Islands have appreciated our contributions to meet their needs in health, in technology and in climate action."
"Mr. President, the most populous nation and the fifth largest economy in the world knows that its progress makes a real difference to the world. Especially when so many nations identify with us for reasons of history, geography and culture. They follow our experiences closely and evaluate our solutions for their larger relevance.
Last week the United Nations assessed progress towards achieving SDGs. The mood here reflected the struggle to overcome challenges, especially those of resource paucity. It is, therefore, vital at this mid-way, that we expand our capacities and regain our confidence. As the largest contributor to meeting SDG targets, India’s achievements should give heart to others on this journey."
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