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BIG STORY APRIL 22, 2022 | The Indian Eye 6

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressing a press conference in Washington DC on Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacting with President Biden during the India-uS virtual
Wednesday. (ANI Photo) summit (ANI Photo/PIB)

friction is the subject of human rights. we take up human rights issues when Blinken had said at the joint Ukraine situation and agreed that
Noting that human rights issue they arise in this country (the US), press conference after the 2+2 dia- the way out is the cessation of hos-
was not discussed during his meeting especially when it pertains to our logue on Monday that India and the tilities and dialogue between Russia
with Antony Blinken, the Indian Ex- community,” Jaishankar said. US share a commitment to demo- and Ukraine.
ternal Affairs Minister on Wednes- Two Sikh men were attacked in cratic values, such as protecting hu- “If you are asking me how we
day made a veiled reference to his the New York borough of Queens man rights. “We regularly engage look at unfolding developments in
remarks at a joint presser and said on Tuesday, less than two weeks af- with our Indian partners on these Ukraine, I had Min Wang Yi come to
India was entitled “to have views ter another Sikh man was assaulted shared values and to that end, we are India last month. We shared our re-
about their (US) views and the in- in the same neighbourhood, author- monitoring some recent concerning spective analyses. But we agreed and
terests and the lobbies and the vote ities said. Sikhs make up the world’s developments in India including a still agree on that way out is dialogue
banks which drives that”. fifth-largest religious community. rise in human rights abuses by some and cessation of hostilities would be
Answering a query about The diaspora spans across the globe, government, police and prison offi- a necessary first step.”
Blinken’s remarks at the joint press and more than 500,000 Sikhs are esti- cials,” he had said. “Our discussions with Ameri-
conference after the 2+2 dialogue mated to be living in the US. But, Jaishankar on Wednesday cans were more about what is it we
on Monday, Jaishankar said India Jaishankar was addressing a said that America does distinguish can all do to encourage an early ces-
also takes a view on other people’s press briefing on his interactions with and differentiate between India and sation of hostilities. That’s where the
human rights situation, including Blinken and US Commerce Secre- China over their respective stands on focus should be. We do think a large
that of the United States and raises tary Gina Raimondo. India’s Am- Russia amid the Ukraine crisis. part of the international community
matters concerning the Indian com- bassador to the US Taranjit Singh Jaishankar further stated that and some other countries have tak-
munity. Jaishankar, who addressed a Sandhu was also present at the press both the ministers shared their re- en an active interest and think along
press conference here, also said that conference. spective analyses concerning the similar lines,” said Jaishankar.
the human rights issue has come up Jaishankar, who held a series of
in the past. high-level meetings during his visit
“No, we did not discuss human to the United States, said that a lot
rights during this meeting. This of time went into discussions on the
meeting was primarily focussed on Ukraine crisis. He said India provid-
political and military affairs.” ed its perspective clearly and “the
“ It (human rights) is a subject two countries discussed energy cri-
which has come up in the past. It sis, food security and humanitarian
came up when Secretary Blinken assistance to Kyiv” amid the Rus-
came to India, and I think if you re- sia-Ukraine conflict.
call the press briefings after that, I Jaishankar said that the Ukraine
was very open about the fact that we conflict situation has a direct impact
had discussed it and said what I had on the global economy. “Ukraine
to say,” Jaishankar said. situation is something that worries
“People are entitled to have everyone. It also has consequences
views about us, but we are also equal- for most people. So, there’s a natu-
ly entitled to have views about their ral interest in the international com-
views and the interests and the lob- munity to say what we can do to help
bies and the vote banks which drive ease the situation and hopefully sort
that,” he added. out the situation. I think it has been a
He said India takes up human persistent thing,” he added.
rights issues with the US, especially The Ukraine conflict has put a bit
if they pertain to the Indian commu- of stress on India-US relations which
nity. “We also take views on other are generally positive and growing.
people’s human rights situation, in- Rajnath Singh meets President Biden at the White House (ANI Photo/Rajnath Singh Twitter) But a worsening war can put these
cluding that of the United States, so relations under more pressure.

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