Union External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Monday said the country’s youth must look at different avenues for work outside the country and not just focus on the US.
Speaking at a public discussion on diplomacy, he pointed out that this is in response to a request by Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundurao who asked for the Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA) intervention in the tough stance adopted by the US government on immigration.
Monday’s talk was part of a larger programme by the MEA to reach out to people and generate interest in the country’s foreign policy.
Discussing various issues ranging from India’s presence in Afghanistan to its relations with neighbouring Pakistan and China, Khurshid put forward the Indian policy of ‘engaged aloofness’ and explained that this stance gave the country the freedom to address all countries with respect. “We do believe that today we have achieved a status that we can speak to USA and Iran at the same time and are able to disagree with no ill-will being generated,” he said.
‘Will Not Politicise Mid-day Tragedy’
Khurshid said the Congress would not politicise the incident where students died after eating a mid-day meal containing pesticide in Chappra, Bihar.
“What happened is sad. However, investigations will reveal the truth and we want strict action against those who are guilty,” he added.