Our Bureau
Washington, DC
In a phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, US President Donald Trump emphasized the need for India to purchase more security equipment manufactured in the United States and to work toward a fair bilateral trading relationship, according to the White House.
Later, Trump also informed that they have discussed immigration. Trump assured reporters that Modi “will do what’s right” in terms of repatriating illegally-acquired Indian immigrants.
Earlier, clarifying India’s stance, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that New Delhi is open to the “legitimate return” of Indian nationals living ‘illegally’ abroad, including in the United States.
The Foreign Minister affirmed that India’s position on the issue has been “consistent” and “principled,” and he did clearly convey this to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“We have always taken the view that if there are any of our citizens who are not here legally, if we are sure that they are our citizens, we have always been open to their legitimate return to India. So, it’s not a position unique to the United States,” Jaishankar said at a press conference in Washington DC, on Wednesday last week.
“I understand right now that there is a certain debate going on and a resulting sensitivity which is there. But we have been consistent; we have been very principled about it, and that remains our position, and I conveyed that very clearly to US State Secretary Marco Rubio,” he added.
Jaishankar, also emphasised that India is very much supportive of ‘legal mobility’ between two countries and wants Indian skills and talent to have great opportunities at the global level.
He added that India is firmly opposed to illegal migration, adding it is not “reputationally good” and also leads to several illegal activities.
