India on Saturday said it will take back all its citizens, detained onboard a boat seized by Australia, but a decision on other nationals will be taken as per international law and convention after ascertaining their identity.
A Home Ministry spokesperson said as per current policy, India will take back its own nationals, detained onboard a boat seized by the Australian authorities in the last week of June this year, provided the consular access clearly determines their origin.
However, in case of other nationals, decision would be taken as per international law and convention after ascertaining their identity, the spokesperson said.
The government’s reaction came after Australia’s Immigration minister Scott Morrison, who was in New Delhi last week and had met Home minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, said India has agreed to take back its citizens and would consider taking non-citizen residents such as Lankans.
‘We have seen press reports on briefings by Australian Minister of Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison on the issue of 157 persons who are held up at sea off the shores of Australia and his interactions with home minister and MEA in Delhi on 23 July.
‘India has a policy of not supporting illegal migration either into India or anywhere outside India.
During the visit of minister Morrison to India, the authorities have clearly conveyed to the Australian side that the first requirement is to provide consular access to Indian High Commission officials in Australia to the persons,’ a statement said.
A Home Ministry spokesperson said as per current policy, India will take back its own nationals, detained onboard a boat seized by the Australian authorities in the last week of June this year, provided the consular access clearly determines their origin.
However, in case of other nationals, decision would be taken as per international law and convention after ascertaining their identity, the spokesperson said.
The government’s reaction came after Australia’s Immigration minister Scott Morrison, who was in New Delhi last week and had met Home minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, said India has agreed to take back its citizens and would consider taking non-citizen residents such as Lankans.
‘We have seen press reports on briefings by Australian Minister of Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison on the issue of 157 persons who are held up at sea off the shores of Australia and his interactions with home minister and MEA in Delhi on 23 July.
‘India has a policy of not supporting illegal migration either into India or anywhere outside India.
During the visit of minister Morrison to India, the authorities have clearly conveyed to the Australian side that the first requirement is to provide consular access to Indian High Commission officials in Australia to the persons,’ a statement said.