India’s Modi govt secures opposition backing for neutral stance on Russia-Ukraine war
Narendra Modi's government today secured backing of the opposition after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar briefed the parliamentary consultative committee of his ministry on India's neutral stance on Russia-Ukraine conflict and the evacuation of Indians from the war-hit nation.
During the three-and-half-an-hour meeting, which was attended by nine MPs from six parties, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the opposition members broadly supported the government's stance of abstaining from voting in the UNSC on a resolution deploring Russia, sources said.
"Just completed a MEA consultative committee meeting on developments in Ukraine. A good discussion on the strategic and humanitarian aspects of the issue. Strong and unanimous message of support for efforts to bring back all Indians from Ukraine," Jaishankar tweeted.
"A national consensus on the importance of dialogue and diplomacy," he said in another post.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said, "we all are united", reports our New Delhi correspondent.
Later tweeting about the meeting, Tharoor said, "Nine MPs attended from six political parties. @INCIndia MPs present were @RahulGandhi, @AnandSharmaINC & 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."
According to those present in the meeting, Rahul asked about the geopolitical impact of Russia's attack on Ukraine and if what Russia is doing in Ukraine can become a template for China in its dealings with India, to which Jaishankar responded emphatically that "India is not Ukraine".
While Congress leaders supported India's position at the UN, where India has maintained a neutral stand on the Ukraine issue, some MPs, including Tharoor, expressed concern over the government's stance especially which was mentioned in its first two speeches in the United nations, sources said.
The meeting of the 21-member consultative committee came amid opposition criticism of the government's alleged delay in evacuation of Indians from Ukraine.
Regional outfit YSR Congress lawmaker Beeseti Venkata Satyavathi said the government assured the MPs that stranded students would be evacuated in the next few days.
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