"It Is By Our Side": Indian MPs Call Russia "Close, Tried And Tested" Friend
A multi-party Indian delegation on Saturday expressed satisfaction at the Russian interlocutors' assurances of support to India in combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations as it concluded its visit to Moscow.
The delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, which was in Russia to sensitise the diplomatic leadership about terror emanating from Pakistan, held wide-ranging discussions to brief the stakeholders in "tried and tested" friend Russia on Operation Sindoor.
Earlier on Friday, Russia had reiterated its decisive commitment to "an uncompromising joint fight" with New Delhi against all forms of terrorism.
Addressing the press at the end of their 48-hour visit to the Russian capital, Kanimozhi said that the nuclear threat by Islamabad was inadmissible, and India will resolutely respond to military escalation by Pakistan.
The delegation described Russia as a "close and tried and tested" friend. "We naturally seek an understanding that Russia is by our side in this time of difficulty. It is better that people are aware of our suffering from state-sponsored terrorism from Pakistan," the delegation members said while answering a media question.
In her initial remarks at the press conference, Kanimozhi described the Russia visit as a "great opportunity to explain our stand" and said, "Pakistan chooses to protect the terrorists, they go ahead and spread false propaganda. We had only targeted terror hubs. India is very clear, we would not come to the table for peace talks when Pakistan continues attacking us."
During the talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, former prime minister Mikhail Fradkov and prominent members of both the houses of the Russian Federal Assembly (Parliament) on Friday, the Russian side was sensitised about the situation post-Pahalgam terror attack and a new "normal" after the Operation Sindoor, she added.
She underscored that India was not against the people of Pakistan. "From Jawaharlal Nehru, Vajpayee to Prime Minister Modi, all have been trying to mend relations with Pakistan, but in response, we get terrorist attacks aimed at disturbing our communal harmony," Ms Kanimozhi pointed out.
"I am a Punjabi and was sometime back on a visit to Pakistan, people there are very friendly and want to have good relations with India, but it is their Army and the government who are against India," one of the members, Dr Ashok Kumar Mittal of AAP, added.
Responding to a Russian correspondent, member of the delegation, veteran Indian diplomat Manjeev Puri said the existing political system makes it difficult to negotiate peace.
"With whom to negotiate, with the government or army, who talk about non-state actors involved in terrorist attacks against India? Well, if they are unable to control them on their own territory, then under the UN charter, the international community should help them," Ambassador Puri said.
The Moscow visit was very important because as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a global power, it has the clout to support India in combating terrorism, he added.
The Indian delegation members also offered tributes at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Moscow. It is leaving tonight for the next leg of their five-nation tour to convey India's concern at the Pak-sponsored cross-border terrorism.
Today, I paid floral tributes to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, at the Embassy of India in Moscow, along with fellow members of the All-Party Parliamentary Delegation. The Mahatma's message of peace and non-violence continues to inspire the world—and we carry it with… pic.twitter.com/qGHegNeWrO
— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) May 24, 2025
The other members of the delegation are Rajiv Rai of SP, Mian Altaf Ahmad of NC, Capt Brijesh Chowta of BJP, Prem Chand Gupta of RJD, and Ambassador Jawed Ashraf.
Earlier on Friday, a Foreign Ministry statement issued after Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko met with the visiting parliamentary delegation expressed readiness to increase close cooperation on the issue at regional and global venues.
"A decisive commitment to an uncompromising joint fight against all forms of terrorism was confirmed. Readiness was expressed to increase close cooperation on these issues at regional and global venues, primarily in the UN, BRICS and SCO," the Foreign Ministry statement said.
Prior to meeting Rudenko, the Indian parliamentarians also had "a fruitful interaction" with former prime minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Fradkov, who heads the Russian Institute of Strategic Studies (RISS) and had a detailed exchange of views at a round-table meeting with all-party members of the Russian Federation Assembly (Parliament) led by the Duma (lower house) International Affairs Committee chair Leonid Slutsky of Liberal-Democratic Party.
Honored to engage in a constructive dialogue with H.E. Mikhail Fradkov, former Prime Minister of Russia & Director of RISS, along with MPs as part of our parliamentary delegation. We discussed global security challenges and the collective fight against terrorism. @RajeevRai … pic.twitter.com/uaRHVnhI2T
— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) May 24, 2025
The delegation also met with First Deputy Chair of the Committee on International Affairs Andrey Denisov and other senators in the Federation Council of the Russian Federation.
The delegation is one of the seven multi-party delegations to 33 global capitals to reach out to the international community on Pakistan's designs and India's response to terror, especially in view of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives.
India carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7, following which Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. The Indian side responded strongly to the Pakistani actions.
The on-ground hostilities ended with an understanding on stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
13 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
RBI Governor says FTA with UK will help India, bats for more such pacts with other nations
MUMBAI: Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Friday welcomed the signing of the free trade agreement with the UK, saying it will help multiple sectors of the Indian economy. Speaking at the FE Modern BFSI Summit here, Malhotra said multilateralism has "unfortunately" taken a back seat, and the country needs more such pacts (like the UK FTA) with countries and added that negotiations with the US are in advanced stages. "Hopefully, it (UK FTA) should help is the way going forward now, because unfortunately multilateralism seems to have taken a back seat," Malhotra said in the central bank's first comments on the trade deal with the UK signed in London. "It should help various sectors in our manufacturing as well as on the services side," Malhotra added. Malhotra said that given the current realities, where multilateralism has taken a back seat, it is necessary for India to have more such pacts with other countries. He also acknowledged that there are many more such pacts in the negotiation stage. India and the UK signed the FTA during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to the UK. The agreement has been in the making for many years now and will open up markets for both countries across goods and services. Meanwhile, Malhotra backed his US counterpart Jerome Powell for his work on upholding the Federal Reserve's independence, at a time when US President Donald Trump has gone public with his disagreement with its policies. "He (Powell) is doing a very good job. Maintaining the independence of the central bank is very important. I think he has done a commendable job," Malhotra said. On cryptocurrency regulations, Malhotra said the government-appointed panel to look into the issue in India will take into account the RBI's concerns. There is no work for a separate currency for the BRICS grouping, the RBI governor said, maintaining that like any other country, India is working on popularising its own currency, and the US dollar is here to stay. India has an agreement with the UAE and is also looking at some arrangement with Maldives on the rupee trade, he said. "The dollar is here, as you're all aware, it's going to be here, you know, for some time, for a longish time. It's because you need some universal cross-border currency," the RBI governor said. Meanwhile, he also appreciated the work done by the Ministry of Petroleum in managing the oil procurement despite the sanctions on Russia.
Time of India
13 minutes ago
- Time of India
Thai army releases drone strike video as clashes with Cambodia kill 16, ceasefire calls grow louder
Watch exclusive footage released by the Thai Army showing drone strikes on Cambodian weapons depots. The July 25 clashes saw deadly fire exchanges between Thailand and Cambodia, killing at least 16. Thailand claims Cambodia used artillery and Russian-made BM-21 rockets. Over 10,000 people were evacuated as tensions escalated. Regional leaders now call for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further bloodshed and instability in the border region. Show more Show less
Scroll.in
13 minutes ago
- Scroll.in
India should stop deporting people to Bangladesh without due process, says human rights group
India should stop unlawfully deporting people to Bangladesh without due process, international non-governmental organisation Human Rights Watch said in a report released on Wednesday. The organisation said that the government should instead 'ensure everyone's access to procedural safeguards to protect against arbitrary detention and expulsion'. Since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the police in several states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party have been detaining Bengali-speaking persons – mostly Muslims – and asking them to prove that they are Indian citizens. Several persons have been forced into Bangladesh after they allegedly could not prove their Indian citizenship. In some cases, individuals who were mistakenly sent to Bangladesh returned to the country after state authorities in India proved that they were Indians. Indian authorities have not provided official data on the total number of expulsions till now. However, the Border Guards Bangladesh has alleged that over 1,500 persons have been forced into Bangladesh from May 7 to June 15. Elaine Person, the Asia director at Human Rights Watch, alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in India was 'fueling discrimination by arbitrarily expelling Bengali Muslims from the country, including Indian citizens'. She added: 'The authorities' claims that they are managing irregular immigration are unconvincing given their disregard for due process rights, domestic guarantees, and international human rights standards.' Human Rights Watch said that India is bound by international treaties to protect human rights and 'to prevent deprivation of citizenship on the basis of race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin'. Detaining and expelling people without due process violates these obligations, the NGO said. The group also urged authorities to prevent the use of excessive force, investigate abuses by security forces, and provide proper food, shelter and medical care for those detained. In May, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs directed the states and Union Territories to verify the credentials of persons suspected to be undocumented migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar. On July 19, the police in Gurugram detained at least 74 migrant workers on the suspicion that they were from Bangladesh, The Wire reported. Of these, 11 were from West Bengal and 63 from Assam.
