Opposition MPs question Foreign Ministry on government’s stance on Iran war. india news
New Delhi: Opposition MPs at a parliamentary committee meeting on Wednesday questioned PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel days before the US strikes on Iran and the government’s “silence” on the killing of the Islamic country’s supreme leader, as the External Affairs Ministry briefed the panel on the safety and security of Indian expatriates in West Asia.While several members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, headed by Congress’ Shashi Tharoor, highlighted India’s diplomatic options and wondered whether it had changed its traditional stance on West Asia-related issues, the ministry said it would respond to their queries in writing later, people in the know said. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who usually briefs the committee, could not attend the meeting.
Tharoor told reporters that every MP had questions and concerns about the overall situation, the impact and the safety of Indians in addition to oil and gas supplies. “We got some replies but not all because the foreign secretary was unavailable,” he said.He said around 9,000 Indians live in Iran but added that it is not necessary that all of them want to leave. He said, it is quite easy to travel by commercial means from Gulf countries, especially UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman.Tharoor said questions were raised about Modi’s visit to Israel but declined to give details about internal discussions within the committee. “MPs will naturally raise every issue that is in their mind,” he said.