Our relationship with Indian diaspora bolstered due to Sushma Swaraj's efforts: Jaishankar
Vienna (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has praised his predecessor late Sushma Swaraj, commending her for being at the forefront in bolstering relations with the Indian diaspora.
Jaishankar made these comments while addressing members of the Indian diaspora here in the Austrian capital on Sunday.
When the minister was asked what foreign policies have changed since Swaraj took over as India's External Affairs Minister, Jaishankar said: "I'm very glad that you mentioned my predecessor the late Sushma Swaraj ji. The fact that our relationship with the Indian communities abroad are strong and will remain stronger, she led from the front.
"I would say in those five years when she was the minister as she was the face and the voice of that message," Jaishankar said.
"And of course we created a system for that to happen but I still feel that she was so symbolic of that change that I'm personally very grateful that you have recalled her at a time like this," he added.
Swaraj passed away on August 6, 2019 at the age of 67, following a cardiac arrest.
An accomplished lawyer, politician and diplomat, Swaraj served as the External Affairs Minister in the first Narendra Modi government from 2014 to 2019.
During his address, Jaishankar also praised the contributions of the diaspora in promoting Indo-Austria relations.
"When people think of India, they don't think of a country, they think of a person. They relate to an Indian and the experience they had with that Indian. If that experience with that Indian is good their impression of India flows from there. For me, all the diplomacy I do is nothing compared to the image and the sentiment that you create. So, keep doing what you are doing here," he said.
Recalling the challenges faced during the Covid-19 crisis and the Ukraine conflict, he said the Modi government demonstrated that it will do whatever is necessary to take care of its citizens abroad.
"During Covid-19 or during the Ukraine crisis, we demonstrated that we will do whatever it takes, including putting our military forces to use to take care of Indians, and we do that because when people speak about the rise of India and taking its place in the world, the first duty of any country or government is to take care of its people. It's something that is a very deep belief of the Prime Minister himself," he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Right to vote under threat, must be made fundamental right: Cong's Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged on Thursday that the right to vote is under threat and the time has come when it should be made a fundamental right for citizens.
Speaking with reporters, Ramesh lashed out at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Election Commission (EC) has never been as compromised as it has been under him.
"The rot started under his predecessor. This man is a player and not a neutral observer," the Congress leader said, slamming Kumar.
Kumar is completely compromised and has become a player in elections, he alleged.
"Home Minister Amit Shah had talked about three Ds -- detect, delete and deport. So we want to know how many non-Indian citizens have been detected, how many have been deleted and how many have been deported," Ramesh said, adding that the right to vote is now under threat.
On opposition parties submitting a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha, seeking to move a motion for the CEC's removal, the Congress leader said they will continue to make efforts for Kumar's removal as he is "compromised".
Ramesh also batted for the right to vote to be recognised as a fundamental right.
"I believe that the time has come that the right to vote should be made a fundamental right. It is a statutory right, it is not a fundamental right. Fundamental rights are justiciable," he said.
The former Union minister said this was discussed in the Constituent Assembly, but it was eventually decided that it should be made part of the Constitution.
B R Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram had warned that in the future, governments might try to disenfranchise voters, he added.
"Once and for all, include the right to vote as a fundamental right for Indian citizens," Ramesh asserted.
