MEA Archives - National Times

03 Nov

MEA Declines Comment On Navi Pillay Winning 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, Shashi Tharoor Had Criticised Government Silence

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsWorld NewsIndia, MEA, Navi Pillay, Nobel Peace Prize 2026, Randhir Jaiswal, Shashi Tharoor

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday declined to comment on South African jurist of Indian origin Navanethem 'Navi' Pillay receiving the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, nearly a month after she was announced as the award's recipient. Asked whether the Indian government had any response to Pillay winning the prestigious honour, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “I have no comments to offer.” The response comes after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticised the government for not publicly congratulating Pillay following the announcement. What Did Shashi Tharoor Say About The Government's Silence? On October 19, Tharoor took…

03 Nov

Oman: Indian Sailor Killed As Vessel Carrying 14 Indians Comes Under Attack, 13 Rescued

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaIndian Sailors, MEA, MSV Al Jusufi, Oman, Randhir Jaiswal, West Asia Conflict

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): An Indian sailor was killed and 13 others were rescued after a commercial vessel carrying 14 Indian nationals came under attack near the coast of Oman on Monday evening, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. The Indian-flagged vessel, MSV Al Jusufi, was attacked near Limah, Oman. The Indian Embassy in Muscat is coordinating with Omani authorities to arrange the return of the 13 rescued crew members and the mortal remains of the deceased sailor. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government was working to bring the survivors back to India and make arrangements to transport…

12 Apr

India rejects China’s “fictitious” renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, World NewsArunachal, Border, China, MEA, Renaming, Sovereignty

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): India on Sunday, April 12, 2026, issued a sharp rebuttal to China’s latest attempt to rename several locations within Arunachal Pradesh. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) characterized the move as a "mischievous" attempt to manufacture baseless narratives, asserting that such actions cannot alter the "undeniable reality" of India's territorial sovereignty. New Delhi reiterated its firm stance that Arunachal Pradesh remains an integral and inalienable part of the country, regardless of unilateral administrative lists released by Beijing. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that assigning fictitious names to Indian territories only serves to inject negativity…

23 Jan

India Slams ‘Reprehensible’ Vandalism at Embassy in Croatia, Takes Up Matter Strongly With Zagreb

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiadiplomatic security, India-Croatia relations, Indian Embassy Zagreb, Khalistan, MEA

Zagreb,Croatia (Bureau): India strongly condemned the trespassing and vandalism at its Embassy in Zagreb, where pro-Khalistan elements removed the Indian national flag and briefly hoisted a Khalistan flag at the mission premises in a deliberate provocation ahead of Republic Day celebrations.Describing the act as “reprehensible,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it has taken up the matter strongly with Croatian authorities both in New Delhi and in Zagreb, demanding that those responsible be identified and held accountable. The MEA termed the incident a serious breach of diplomatic security and a clear violation of international obligations under the Vienna Convention…

26 Nov

India Rebukes Pakistan for Remarks on Ayodhya Temple Flag-Hoisting, Calls Out Its Human Rights Record

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAyodhya temple, India-Pakistan, MEA, Randhir Jaiswal, saffron flag

New Delhi, November 26 — India strongly rejected Pakistan’s criticism of the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stating that Islamabad’s comments deserved “contempt” and that Pakistan should instead focus on its own human rights failures.MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, responding to questions at the weekly media briefing, said Pakistan had “no moral standing to lecture others,” citing its long history of discrimination and mistreatment of minorities. “We have seen the reported remarks and reject them with the contempt they deserve,” Jaiswal said. “As a country with a deeply stained…

30 Oct

Trump Praises India for Reducing Russian Oil Imports, Calls New Delhi “Very Good” on Energy Cooperation

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDonald Trump, energy cooperation, India-US relations, MEA, Russian oil imports

Washington, October 30: US President Donald Trump on Thursday lauded India’s approach to reducing oil imports from Russia, describing New Delhi as “very good” in addressing Washington’s concerns over Moscow’s energy trade. His remarks come amid heightened global scrutiny of nations maintaining commercial ties with Russia following the Ukraine conflict.Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, Trump said, “Xi has been buying oil from Russia for a long time. It takes care of a big part of China. And, you know, I can say India’s been very good…

30 Oct

US Grants India Six-Month Sanctions Waiver for Chabahar Port Project in Iran

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, World NewsChabahar Port, India-US relations, MEA, Randhir Jaiswal, US sanctions waiver

New Delhi, October 30: The United States has granted India a six-month waiver from its sanctions on the Chabahar port project in Iran, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday. The move is expected to strengthen India’s trade and connectivity network across Central Asia and demonstrates Washington’s pragmatic approach toward New Delhi’s regional priorities.MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the development, stating, “The US has granted India a six-month waiver from its sanctions for the Chabahar port project.” He added that the exemption reflects the continued cooperation between India and the US in advancing strategic infrastructure and regional connectivity.Jaiswal…

14 Oct

BLS International Banned from MEA Tenders for Two Years

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBanned, BLS International, MEA

Delhi/ Toronto ( Rajeev Sharma): In a major development, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, has debarred BLS International Services Ltd. from participating in any future tenders or projects for a period of two years.According to official sources, the decision — communicated to the company on October 10, 2025 — follows multiple allegations and complaints from applicants, as well as court cases related to the company’s operations in various visa and passport outsourcing services.However, the MEA clarified that this restriction will apply only to new tenders, and existing contracts and projects currently managed by BLS International will…

26 Sep

MEA Confirms 2,417 Indians Deported from US Since January, Emphasises Legal Migration

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDeportation, illegal migration, India, MEA, Randhir Jaiswal, United States

New Delhi, September 26, 2025: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday confirmed that 2,417 Indian nationals have been deported or repatriated from the United States since January 2025. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted India’s firm stance against illegal migration, stressing the government’s focus on promoting safe and legal channels for migration.“Since January, 2,417 Indian nationals have been deported or repatriated from the United States. We remain committed to encouraging legal pathways and stand firmly against illegal migration,” Jaiswal said during the weekly media briefing.Explaining the verification process, he noted that individuals without legal status abroad are returned to India…

11 Sep

MEA Flags Concern Over Indian Citizens Recruited by Russian Military, Warns of Serious Risks

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsMEA

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has once again raised alarm over the recruitment of Indian nationals into the Russian army, cautioning citizens against accepting such offers and calling the situation dangerous and deeply concerning. Responding to widespread media inquiries, MEA spokesperson Shri Randhir Jaiswal stated that the Indian government is aware of recent cases involving Indians being drawn into Russia’s military structure, and has been actively engaging with Russian authorities both in Delhi and Moscow to put a stop to the practice. Repeated Warnings, Yet Rising Cases The spokesperson noted that over the past year,…