- Tuesday, April 16, 2024
The Indian diplomat said talks between the two nations in March and now have seen a progress which is clear from the fact that Modi thanked Albanese for Canberra’s action against the menace.
By: Shubham Ghosh
India’s foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Wednesday (24) said in a reference to the menace of Khalistan extremism in Australia that governments of both Australia and India will do whatever they need to to clamp down on such disruptive elements.
In a press conference in Sydney that attacks on temples and other such activities in Australia that are disruptive to the relationship were discussed by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese as they were during the latter’s visit to India in March.
Modi is currently on a three-day state visit to Australia as part of a three-nation tour which will conclude on Wednesday (24). He also met Albanese earlier the same day.
“As you heard the honourable Prime Minister say in his press remarks that the attack on the temples and the activities of the other separatist elements, these were discussed between the two prime ministers…,” Kwatra said.
The Indian diplomat also said that discussions between the top leadership of both nations in March and now have seen progress and it is clear from the fact that Modi thanked Albanese for Canberra’s action against the menace and the culprits.
Kwatra added that Modi said that the two nations’ ties are very strong and they will not allow the friendly ties to be disrupted by the elements. He also thanked the Australian prime minister over his assurance that Canberra will continue to take strong action against such elements that threaten the partnership between India and Australia.
The Indian official said it is an area where relevant departments of both countries will remain in touch so that timely action can be taken over such instances whenever the need arises.
Several instances of Khalistani extremism and clashes between Khalistani activists and pro-India demonstrators have come to the fore in several parts of Australia. There have also been cases where Indian flags have been burnt and Hindu temples have been vandalised in various cities of Australia.
India’s external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Wednesday met his Australian counterpart Penny Wong and said that both countries are increasingly demonstrating their ability to go beyond the bilateral and collaborate at the regional and global level.
Jaishankar described his meeting with Wong as “excellent”.
“An excellent meeting this afternoon with FM @SenatorWong of Australia. The follow-up to the Prime Ministers’ Summit has commenced. India and Australia are increasingly demonstrating their ability to go beyond the bilateral and collaborate at the regional and global level,” Jaishankar tweeted.
“An honour to meet with @narendramodi and @DrSJaishankar with @AlboMP. As PM Modi has said, our relationship is based on the three ‘Ds’: democracy, diaspora and dosti – or friendship. We are investing in our partnership to grow our trade, defence and people-to-people ties,” Wong tweeted.
On Tuesday, Modi said that there was a time when 3Cs used to define relations between India and Australia. These three were – Commonwealth, Cricket and Curry. “After that, it was 3Ds… Democracy, Diaspora and Dosti! Then it became 3Es, it was all about Energy, Economy and Education. But the truth is that the actual depth of the relation between India and Australia transcends these C, D, E…” Modi said while addressing a packed Qudos Bank Arena here. The event was also attended by Albanese.
(With PTI inputs)
