Proactive PM support, never a challenge: Sushma

Asserting that a "proactive" PM is not a "challenge", External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday said Narendra Modi has not imposed any "restrictions" on her and it was she who prefers to keep a "low profile". "Proactive PM is a support and never a challenge," Swaraj said when asked if PM Modi's proactive attitude was a challenge for her.

She was addressing a press conference in the national Capital to highlight the NDA government's achievements in the past one year on the foreign policy front. "There is never a competition between the team members for number one, two or three. Team plays together” she said.

"As far as low profile is concerned, this is what goes with my profile. Prime Minister has not imposed any restrictions on anyone so why will he put it on me. But why you feel that I am low profile is because I have become External Affairs Minister from the position of Leader of Opposition. In LoP's profile, I had to speak everyday,” she said. The Minister added: "But as Foreign Minister, my opinion is that I should not speak on domestic issues. Because when the Foreign Minister speaks, it is not his/her personal opinion or party's but country's opinion. Therefore, a foreign Minister should not speak....So I decided that the profile I have got, I should not speak and I follow that," Swaraj said.

She said in the first year of the NDA govrenment emphasis has been on three areas – visits, dialogue and outcome- and noted that 162 diplomatic engagements have taken place with 101 countries between Modi, herself and Minister of State for External Affairs. She said there can’t be any talks with Pakistan against the backdrop of violence. “There is no flip-flop on Pakistan policy... is very clear... no talks with violence as backdrop,” she said.