Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:
Good evening friends and welcome to the weekly media briefing. I will begin with a couple of announcements.
My first announcement is on the incoming visit by Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China and Party Secretary of Shanghai, Mr Han Zheng, who is visiting India from May 05, 2016 to May 09, 2016, at the invitation of the
External Affairs Minister.
During his stay in India, he will visit New Delhi, Agra, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. The visit is under the exchange program between the Ministry of External Affairs of India and the International Department of the Communist Party of China
i.e. MEA-IDCPC.
Following the institutionalisation and expansion of the MEA-IDCPC during the landmark visit of Prime Minister Modi to China in May 2015, this is the highest level visit from China under this exchange program. The last visit from India
under the MEA-IDCPC was of the Chief Minister of Haryana, who had visited China in January 2016.
MEA-IDCPC is an innovative program that affords us the opportunity for interaction between the states and provinces in India and China and caters to the specificities of our two political systems. It helps to enhance mutual understanding.
Many senior leaders currently in China’s leadership have visited India under this program.
Mr HanZheng is accompanied by a strong business delegation. During his visit Mr Han Zheng will meet Indian leaders and interact with a cross-section of Indian political and business circles. It is expected that the interactions during
his visit will contribute to the further strengthening of the Closer Developmental Partnership that was established during the important visit of President Xi Jinping to India in 2014.
My second announcement pertains to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. The draw of lots to select the yatris for the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will be conducted tomorrow i.e. May 06, 2016 at 10:00 am. Hon’ble Minister of State for External
Affairs, Gen. V. K. Singh will inaugurate the selection procedure. This year a total of 2,482 complete applications have been registered. The break-up is: 1,948Males and 656 Females.
The Ministry of External Affairs organises this yatra during June – September each year through two different routes -the Lipulekh pass in Uttarakhand and the Nathu-la pass in Sikkim. There would be a total of 18 batches of 60 pilgrims
each.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is known for its religious value, cultural significance, physical beauty and thrilling nature. It is undertaken by hundreds of people every year and holds religious importance for Hindus, Jains and Buddhists.
The yatra is open to eligible Indian citizens holding valid Indian Passports who wish to proceed to Kailash Mansarovar for religious purposes. It has been recognized by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation as a trekking expedition.
So those were my two announcements and the floor is now open for questions.
Question: Sir, there have been reports that in Nepal the K P Oli government is facing trouble with the UCPN, Maoists planning to withdraw support and bring Prachanda as their leader. Again
today it is understood that they have backtracked on the whole thing. Can you throw some light on what is happening there?
Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:
Well, as you know these are internal political developments in Nepal. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on those. But of course, as a close neighbour we are following the developments in Nepal very closely.
Question: Sir, yesterday on this Augusta issue CBI had said that they have written letter to MEA on expediting the LR’s to eight countries and they are still waiting response from five
of them. Can you throw some light on it?
Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:
Yes, I can confirm that we have received a communication in this regard from the CBI seeking an update on the execution reports of the Letters Rogatory that were sent earlier to eight countries. We have once again written to our missions
in the concerned countries from where the execution reports are pending in order to impress upon them the need to expeditiously execute their LRs and to send their corresponding execution reports at the earliest.
Question: Has the British High Commission responded on the extradition request for Vijay Mallya?
Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:
No
Question: In Bangladesh, Indian visa applicants, they have recently lodged an online petition complaining against the harassment they face in obtaining the electronic token system which
is apparently essential to get a tourist visa appointment. Now, they are alleging that money is changing hands in that process and apparently they have copied MEA in their petition. So my question is, are you aware of this development and whether any action
has been taken in this regard?
Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:
Our embassy in Bangladesh probably issues the highest number of visas in the world and yet the demand is four times higher. So we are trying to upgrade our visa application systems there, we are trying to have more personnel there
so that we can handle the additional demand and these issues that have cropped up as a result of that, we are fully cognizant of those and we are trying to ensure a completely streamlined, transparent and efficient system.
Question: Sir, any delegation is coming to India with the Chinese?
Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:
As I mentioned a strong business delegation is coming.
Question:What are the strong business team members?
Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:
No, I do not have the details of the businessmen who are coming with them.
Question: ….. Are the businessmen common in all (Inaudible)…..
Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:
No, primarily as I said it will consist of businessmen who have interest in investments in India, in doing joint ventures in India and things like that. Obviously the business delegation would include only those businessmen who have
recognized the potential of India and are keen to explore business opportunities in India.
Question:Mr Swarup, is there a Heads of Mission meet happening in Uttarakhand starting tomorrow or something?
Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:
Well, as you know every year we do have an annual Heads of Mission Conference.So this year the conference is going to be held in Mussoorie, at the end of May.
Question: Sir, Bihar Chief Minister Mr Nitish Kumar has expressed willingness to travel to Nepal with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 21st. Is there any program of Prime
Minister to go to Nepal and can you enlighten us about the Prime Minister’s visit to Tehran?
Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:
In so far as the first part of your question is concerned, there are no immediate plans for the Prime Minister to visit Nepal. We are aware of the invitation that has been received for the conference in Lumbini and the invitation is
to some Indian cultural organisations also. We will be represented at an appropriate level.
On Tehran, well as you know, we share a very close historical and civilizational friendship with Iran. A relationship which has been in existence for a long period of time. Prime Minister had been extended an invitation by President Rouhani
when the two had met in Ufa. Prime Minister had accepted that invitation in-principle. We are currently in the process of working with our Iranian counterparts to work out the suitable dates. As and when I have something, I will inform you.
Question: We have seen the statement about the Italian marines and would like to know if there is some other developments after that?
Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson: No, there is no further development. As you know the tribunal had said that both India and Italy should now approach the Supreme Court of India to relax the bail
conditions for Sgt. Girone. That will happen in the near future.
Question:So, the process is not started?
Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:
No, as I said the verdict just came on Tuesday and today is Thursday.
Question: Well, this is your first appearance after the Dolkun Isa visa issue. What’s your update about this closed-door meeting that was held in Dharamshala? Because it was obviously
not reported widely, what was that happened? How many delegates came, how many, was there any meetings with the delegates which were beyond the reach of the media?
Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:
I expected this question from you Kalol. Look, let me make it clear. There was no "conference”. Certain individuals had come to India to meet the Dalai Lama. As you are aware, the Dalai Lama is a respected spiritual leader and there
is absolutely no bar on foreigners coming to India to have a religious or spiritual audience with him. So that is all I have to say about that so called meeting.
Question: Would you like to share the name of countries that are being… where we are sending LRs basically?
Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:
Yes,I will tell you those names. Italy, Tunisia, Mauritius, Singapore, British Virgin Islands, UK, UAE and Switzerland.
I think that has exhausted all the questions so, that concludes the press briefing. Thank you all.
(Concludes)