(On External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s Annual Press Conference on completion of 4 yrs of BJP govt on 18 June 2018.)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj appeared as gracious in person as she was in replying questions by the media at the annual press conference on the completion of four years of this government. The presser started with a lighter moment with the Official Spokesperson Ravish Kumar declaring that there will be no advance booking of questions. Really!!! The media wing of EA would then beat any airlines with early bird booking to get a question free with one. Book one early, get one free.
H1B and H4 trumped
After the release of a Coffee Table Book named ‘Unprecedented Outreach, Unparalleled outcomes’ which chronicles the 4 years achievements of the government’s foreign outreach, moving into the second module of the PC, EAM talked about the H1B and H4 visas for Indian professionals and their spouses respectively in the US revoked by President Trump. History claims PM Modi had impressed former President Obama to allow HIB visas holders’ spouses who may be equally qualified and may contribute to the US economy. Unpredictable Trump in his best of after thoughts revoked the order creating the present mess of H4 visa for the spouses. Good news awaits as the EAM informed that making the most of his renewed ‘huggy’ relations with President Trump, PM Modi had coaxed and cajoled him to reconsider it. So much so that their own 130 Congressmen and Senators have written a letter to the President on this. The lovelorn couples have to wait some more for the Trump inflicted ‘judai’.
Enemy no 1
On a rather cheeky question that during Atalji’s time George Fernandis said China was no 1 enemy, now in Modi’s time you say Pakistan is no 1 enemy, Sushma quipped, ”shouldn’t we move on, or should we remain in the same times.” Its surely hard to miss the Minister’s ‘unprecedented’ and ‘unparalleled’ wit. Make your own guesses.
Twitter Foreign Policy
On Congress’s ‘India Betrayed’ slogan against BJP, the minister turned into an emotional avatar. The arch rival’s blames that BJP’s policy on Pakistan was flip flop, proximity to US, distance from Russia and Foreign ministry reduced to a twitter handle, just hit her where it hurts her most. ‘I am in politics from 51 yrs, contested 11 elections, elected for Lok Sabha so I know the sorrows and hardships of people. It is incumbent of the foreign policy of a nation to solve problems of people living outside. Before last 4 yrs it was called elitist department. With twitter I have touched based with people of the country. Its a first of its kind effort to connect foreign policy with public policy. These humanity bereft people may make fun of it, but when someone of theirs will be stuck outside then they will understand the importance of this medium.’ Later taking a snipe at Congress she said, ‘probably I don’t know foreign policy (as they say) even though I am answering every question by you’ll on it. They may do good to change their mind.’ It may or may not move Congress’s heart but it surely touched the media community.
Mallya in Indian jails
Mallya has reportedly objected to come to Indian jails. So British courts seem to have taken on themselves to see that the fugitive with loads of Indian tax payers money on his back is in no way troubled behind Indian bars. When Teresa May did a little speaking on behalf of their courts, PM Modi had a terse reply, again ‘paralleled’. He said, and this is what EAM informed, that these are the same jails in which you people kept Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and other freedom fighters. So it is not appropriate of you to raise questions on those jails…. What a sixer.
