New Delhi
External affairs minister S Jaishankar today told the country’s political leaders,” The big lessons of Sri Lanka to be drawn on fiscal prudence and good governance, fortunately in this country, under the leadership of the PM we have both in very ample measure.”
He was replying to members of 28 political parties who attended the all-party meeting on the situation in Sri Lanka as some of them raised questions on India’s fiscal health while extending help to Sri Lanka.
Jaishankar told the all-party meeting that there is a “very serious crisis in Sri Lanka and India has approached the country in a very humanistic way as part of its neighbourhood first policy.”
He later told the media that the Government’s approach to Sri Lanka was explained in great detail and there was an appreciation of the concerns expressed and suggestions made in the deliberations.
Jaishankar, who was among eight ministers present in the meeting to brief the leaders said “The reason we took the initiative to request you all to join an all-party meeting was...this is a very serious crisis and what we are seeing in Sri Lanka is in many ways an unprecedented situation and India is worried about it but drawing comparisons is being uninformed.”
Jaishankar said if there is instability in any neighbouring country or any violence that is a matter of deep concern to us. He said India had extended USD’3.8 billion to Sri Lanka and no other country has supported to this level.
Later National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah told the media: "The nation (Sri Lanka) is dying. How do we save the nation and the people? The common man is suffering. Medicines and food are not there. The whole country is in turmoil. How can India help because it is also a member of the IMF? What will India do when it goes to the IMF? That's the question.”
He said India will have to help Sri Lanka while striking a balance between our needs and helping others.
"The government briefed us about the situation in Sri Lanka and their loans. Many Sri Lankan citizens are living in Tamil Nadu since the crisis began in Sri Lanka.. All of us said that India is a large nation and the nearest nation to Sri Lanka. It is our responsibility to help them. India will have to fulfill that responsibility," he added.
When asked about the response of the government over the situation in India, the NC leader said that the Finance Secretary has called our (foreign) reserves "better.".
"Finance Secretary said that our condition is not bad and our reserves are better. China's debt trap is not the only concern for (Sri Lanka). They have taken money from many places. They don't have any option other than IMF. I hope India will help it out in that. We should forget the old things and should look to move forward," Abdullah said.
