Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, March 3: The foreign ministry today addressed the 21-member foreign affairs consultative committee on the situation in Ukraine and the ongoing attempt to rescue stranded Indian citizens, particularly students.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who made the presentation today with Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, is the chairman of the 21-member committee. Rahul Gandhi, Anand Sharma, and Shashi Tharoor, all members of the Congress, were also on the committee.
“Excellent meeting of the Consultative Committee on External Affairs this morning on Ukraine. My thanks to Dr S Jaishankar & his colleagues for a comprehensive briefing & candid responses to our questions & concerns. This is the spirit in which foreign policy should be run”, Tharoor tweeted after the meeting.
Excellent meeting of the Consultative Committee on External Affairs this morning on #Ukraine. My thanks to @DrSJaishankar & his colleagues for a comprehensive briefing & candid responses to our questions &concerns. This is the spirit in which foreign policy should be run. pic.twitter.com/Y3T3UIrm9z
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 3, 2022
“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,” tweeted Jaishankar.
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. pic.twitter.com/QU6I7wtr6d
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 3, 2022
In the meeting, Rahul Gandhi raised issue of China and Pakistan getting closer to Russia but he said that at present, priority is to evacuate students from Ukraine. The Congress leaders said that the Indian government is late in reaction and the advisories were confusing.
Meanwhile, the EAM clarified and said that students had doubts about their academic position and the government of Ukraine was giving assurance on the situation. EAM gave a presentation about evacuation and the current situation.
Notably, Congress leaders supported the Indian government stand of abstaining from voting in UNSC.
