The Strategic partnership with the United States is secondary to the welfare and security of the U.S.-based Indian-origin people, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha in response to questions from the Left parties, Ms. Swaraj did not rule out racial angle to the attacks that have taken place in recent weeks in various parts of the United States.
“For us, strategic partnership with the United States is secondary and the first priority is to ensure safety and security of the Indians and members of the Indian-origin people in the United States. For the government, safety of the Indian diaspora comes first,” said Ms. Swaraj. “We are continuously in talks with the U.S. and our missions are in contact with local Indian communities. We will continue to remain alert to any challenges to Indians living abroad,” Ms. Swaraj said, emphasising that she was voicing the opinion of the Indian government regarding the recent attacks that killed two Indians and injured two others.
Majority sentiment
“I have not ruled out racial aspect. Both in the case of Srinivas [Kuchibhotla] and others I have urged them to investigate the racial angle. But I believe that these attacks do not represent the majority sentiment of the American people to the Indian community living there,” she said.
