‘If our colleagues are opposing CHOGM, it’s their way of understanding national interest or local concern’

Khurshid: We are yet to take a decision on the issue. There will be a lot of opposition, which is obvious too. In my opinion, it’s regional politics versus national interest. If I am supporting our participation in CHOGM and if PM is to be persuaded by me, I must be doing it because that is my understanding of the national interest. If our colleagues are opposing, it’s their way of understanding national interest or their local concern.They have a right to say, which they are doing. We have a duty to do, which we are performing. Ultimately, the best decision will be taken, this is what the PM has said. It will happen in the next couple of days. The only decision is that I am going, and a decision for the PM to go or not will be taken soon.

Chidambaram hasn’t spoken publicly, but I can understand that people have sensed that he has a position on this. Leaders such as Vasan and others have spoken out publicly. I respect their stand. Their decision is based on their understanding of the ground reality, but I have a job to do, which  I am trying to do it to the best of my ability.

Q: You visited Sri Lanka last month. One of the issues which is believed to be discussed was the implementation of the Thirteenth Amendment. Can you throw some light on Colombo’s stand on that in discussions during your recent visit? 

Khurshid: The Thirteenth Amendment was part of the implementation of the Indo-Sri Lanka accord which is about the provincial powers of the Northern Province, focusing on its decentralisation. But there is a major debate going on in Sri Lanka over the issue of devolution of power. Now, we think that Sri Lanka might have one or two positions on the matter. As per our understanding, the reason behind pushing for this is that unless there is an ample decentralisation of power, the aspirations of Sri Lankan Tamils would not get fulfilled. Therefore, thinking in these lines is the best option for Sri Lanka, and we have been involved in the discussion. We have achieved this to some extent. Now, there is debate in Sri Lanka that they should go back to the position that was taken in the Thirteenth Amendment. The Lankan Supreme Court is taking some decisions on various aspects of the issue. It is an evolving process and we are urging them as friends that they must pay heed to what we think is good for them and all of us in the region. If we don’t have good working relations with them, how will we convince them? The reason why I think it’s important that we should remain engaged for the purpose is that we want to do advocacy on behalf of the elected government and the people of Northern Provinces and only then we must engage with Sri Lanka.

We should not cut off all ties from them as they feel they need us and we expect them to deliver according to our expectations. I think cutting off ties at this juncture would not be practical and pragmatic. 

Q: The new date for re-poll in Maldives is just round the corner (9 November). What does New Delhi expect from Male, especially when an earlier attempt by foreign secretary Sujatha Singh apparently failed as Mohammed Waheed’s government didn’t allow the re-run to take place last month. Do you have any doubt that Male may be overlooking New Delhi’s concerns for fair and free elections before 11 November after which the island nation could see a constitutional crisis?

KHURSHID: Why should we jump to such conclusions? They have elections from 9 November. You could have a satisfactory result and I understand if there is a need for another run-off they will do it on 10 November, which is the next day. 11th is the day they have to complete the process. There are three candidates in the fray and all three of them have accepted the schedule. They have also accepted that they won’t raise any objections, so therefore let’s hope for the best. 

Q: Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has said that a Nigerian diplomat sent threatening SMSes to one of the cops. The Goa government is also accusing that the diplomat should have come through MEA which he didn’t and accusing MEA of not handling the situation carefully. What is the latest which has been done from your ministry on this issue?   

Khurshid: I can’t give any detail on this, but I can tell you that diplomatically we are in touch with Nigeria and they are also in our contact. I think there have been some arrests for the murder of Nigerian citizen, which will send a message of satisfaction to the country that action has been taken. I don’t want to comment on the remarks of the Goa chief minister. I think its uncalled for. He (the Goa chief minister) has a job to do and we have our task to perform. Now, our duty is to perform largely in Nigeria, while their (Goa govt) is restricted to the state only. I admit there is overlapping. 

Q: What are your views of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s meeting with his counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York recently?

KHURSHID: I support the meeting of our Prime Minister with Nawaz Sharif. Sadly, even after the meeting the subsequent developments do not reflect the intent with which both sides had met in New York. There was a very serious commitment made by Nawaz Sharif to maintain peace at the LoC. We don’t see that reflected in weeks after the meeting in the conduct of the Pakistan armed forces on the Line of Control. We have expressed our regret, but we still think sanity will prevail and we will get back to resolve the issue.

Q: What would be the key issues during the meeting with Pakistan’s security adviser Sartaj Aziz?

KHURSHID: The date of the meeting has not been fixed yet. We will extend the best courtesies and will see what he wants to discuss. Certainly, if I meet any Pakistani interlocutor, I would say that the outcome of the very important meeting in New York, which they had really been looking forward, is disappointing. We would seek an explanation to why this (ceasefire violations) happening. There is a way to move forward to bring things in control, because the level of shelling which has been seen in recent days is alarming. How to bring things under control, if there is an opportunity, we will certainly discuss it.

Q: What is your take on issue of upcoming elections in Bangladesh?

KHURSHID: It is a tough situation. There is a very severe divide in the two parties. An attempt was made for them to make some kind of working relationship in order to see the elections through, but there hasn’t been much progress. There are judgements coming out of tribunals and courts constantly which are inevitable but are leading to greater anxiety amongst the opposition. Whether it’s right or wrong that is for people in Bangladesh to judge. But it looks worrying. Sometimes statements are being made that India  has an interest there, but isn’t so. We don’t back anyone. If we have good relations with anyone, we maintain them. I met Khalida Zia as foreign minister. We do not choose one or the another. Obviously, if someone is friendly, you would respond and if someone is not then you wouldn’t. As far as we are concerned it is reciprocal.

Q: Modi and Rahul are both aggressively addressing rallies and also taking on each other, do you think that would impact voters?

KHURSHID: I don’t know why we should link Narendra Modi with Rahul Gandhi. They are two different issues. Modi is a leader of the BJP and they are the opposition. They are trying to unseat us and we have to fight to protect our territory. 

Q: Your comments on the BJP’s demand for PM-level security for Modi?

KHURSHID: Why SPG level security for him? What is wrong with NSG? They must say what is lacking in NSG so that they want SPG cover. In fact SPG is just a specialist agency that looks after the work of the Prime Minister. It is like saying I want a principal secretary as like prime minister. It doesn’t make any sense. There is a special carve out for the prime minister, former ministers and their families. There is an order for probably dealing with them separately. While other people are protected by other agencies. The highest protection that is given to anybody in this country is the NSG cover. The NSG is no ordinary force. If you have the NSG cover, then it itself takes into account what kind of threat perception there is. You cannot have the trappings of a prime minister before you become prime minister or you claim to be. You have to wait for your turn in a democracy till you are endorsed by the people, before you can seek or expect everything that someone in high office has.

Q: Do you think the Modi factor might work for the first time voter in the upcoming assembly elections?

Khurshid: Let’s try and see. That is what elections are all about. Let’s see whether it works or not. It didn’t work in Karnataka.