Page 6 - The Indian EYE 041924

NATION APRIL 19, 2024 | The Indian Eye 6

INDIA-RUSSIA RELATIONS

Defense Minister explains India’s balancing

act amid China’s growing threat in region

“Our policy is not of non-alignment but of multi-alignment”: Rajnath Singh

on India’s relations with the US and Russia

OUR BUREAU crores by 2028-29.
“Defense exports of more than
New Delhi
Rs 21,000 crores have taken place...
efense Minister Rajnath our target is even higher. But we are
Singh on Thursday highlight- confident that we will also achieve
Ded India’s ability to balance that target. Till 2028-29, we want to
its historically reliable and strategic take our export of defense items, to
partnership with Russia while nurtur- Rs 50,000 crores,” Singh told ANI.
ing its growing relationship with the He emphasized that the coun-
US. In an interview, Rajnath Singh try’s defense system has been in-
said, “As of now, this balance is main- duced with a new energy by the
tained. Our policy is not of non-align- Government, as per the vision of the
ment but of multi-alignment and we people of the country.
can have good relations with anyone. Further, on being asked if the
Our relationship with Russia is good, Indian Navy will increase its surveil-
and so it is with America.” lance in the Indian Ocean region
This balanced stance is aimed amid increasing Chinese ‘interest’ in
at avoiding alienating Russia while the region, the defense minister af-
maintaining India’s commitment firmed that the decision will be made
to global principles. Notably, India as per the situation. “Indian Navy is
maintains a robust stance on global Defense Minister Rajnath Singh at a public meeting in Bikaner on Sunday (ANI) playing its role. If some specific situ-
issues including the ongoing conflicts ation arises, we will make our deci-
in Ukraine and Gaza. purchase Russian oil under a price brought about by the Government, sions accordingly,” he said.
Regarding the Russia-Ukraine cap, despite pressure from Western which is giving a new shape to In- India believes in a free, open and
conflict, India has always con- countries. dia’s defense sector. He said that rules-based Indo-Pacific region that
demned civilian killings and called Singh also highlighted promot- India’s defense exports have risen to promotes shared security and eco-
for a peaceful resolution to the con- ing ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defense Rs 21,000 crore and the central gov- nomic development for the region as
flict. However, it has continued to manufacturing as the biggest change ernment aims to take it to Rs 50,000 well as for the global community.

“We have stood up for Canadians”: Trudeau on Nijjar killing

anadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who testified at a public in- government’s commitment to defending the rights and freedoms of Ca-
quiry looking into foreign interference in Canada’s electoral pro- nadians.”
Ccess said that his government was firm on the issue of protecting “And the suggestion that we haven’t and we won’t do everything we
Canadians, including addressing the killing of Khalistani extremist Hard- can to defend Canadian rules and values and defend Canadians from for-
eep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead in Surrey last June. eign interference is simply misplaced,” Trudeau is heard in a video of the
During a hearing of the Foreign Interference Commission which is inquiry proceedings shared by Canadian newspaper The Global and Mail.
headed by Quebec judge Marie-Josee Hogue, Trudeau accused the pre- “Our government has always stood up to defend minorities in Cana-
vious Conservative government in the country of being “cosy” with the da and the rights of minorities to speak out even if it irritates their home
current Indian government. countries overseas,” Trudeau said.
Asked about foreign interference during the 2019 elections and re- A briefing document from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service
dacted parts in the 2019 annual report of the NSI, Trudeau said, “In a (CSIS) says that China “clandestinely and deceptively” interfered in the
public setting, I can’t speak to redactions made for national security. But last two federal elections.
I will say that the principle that anyone who comes to Canada from any- In a classified February interview with the Commission of Inquiry,
where in the world has all the rights of a Canadian to be free from extor- Trudeau called it extremely damaging to the confidence of the people of
tion, coercion, interference from a country that they left behind and how Canada in the democratic process. A public summary of the interview was
we have stood up for Canadians, including in the very serious case that I revealed at the inquiry on Wednesday, where Trudeau testified at an open
brought forward to Parliament of the killing of Nijjar, demonstrates our hearing.

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