The case of Bangladesh was somewhat totally different and India additionally benefited from joint initiatives. File photograph | Picture credit score: ANI
“India has not been concerned in monetary help or initiatives with neighbouring international locations like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh with the intention of controlling the inner political dynamics of these international locations,” mentioned S. Jaishankar, a overseas minister. He made the remarks whereas answering questions after a dialogue on the Asia Society Coverage Institute in New York.
Learn additionally: Bangladesh-India relations needs to be primarily based on fairness and justice: Senior Adviser Yunus
The minister mentioned the monetary help of round $4.5 billion that India has given to Sri Lanka was not provided with conditionalities, referring to a bailout given to Sri Lanka on the peak of the island nation’s financial disaster in 2022.
“It’s not that we had any political conditionality that went together with that. I imply, we had been doing it as a very good neighbour who didn’t wish to see that form of financial collapse on our doorstep,” he mentioned, responding to a query in regards to the obvious lack of advantages in return for the unconditional support supplied to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
“That’s the reason I believe what is going on politically in Sri Lanka is one thing that in the end its politicians must take note of,” the Minister mentioned, including that it was not India’s intention to recommend that political dynamics in its neighbouring international locations needs to be restricted to what’s greatest for India.
The questioner had requested about assaults on minorities, particularly Hindus and Buddhists, in Bangladesh following the autumn of the Sheikh Hasina authorities. The Modi authorities has on a number of events raised the difficulty of assaults on minorities and Hindu temples in these international locations with governments of different international locations.
The case of Bangladesh was somewhat totally different, as, in keeping with Mr Jaishankar, India had additionally benefited from joint initiatives.
“That’s the reason I urge you to not be deterministic about it,” he mentioned, including: “It isn’t as if India is making an attempt to regulate each political transfer of each neighbour.”
Revealed – September 25, 2024 10:04 am IST