NEW DELHI: India remains one of the few countries that is able to engage with all sides in West Asia conflict, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said on Thursday, defending govt’s diplomatic approach and rejecting opposition claims that India has become a bystander in the crisis.“If our ships are passing through the Strait of Hormuz and continue to move safely, that itself shows India’s position. Our PM has spoken to the US President, Israeli PM, Iranian President and leaders of Gulf countries. Very few leaders in the world can speak to all sides,” Rijiju said.He added that India has maintained stability despite multiple global crises over the past decade, including Covid-19, Russia-Ukraine war, Gaza war and ongoing tensions in West Asia.Rijiju described the all-party meeting convened on West Asia situation as “productive”, saying opposition leaders had raised concerns which were addressed by the govt. “At the end of the meeting, opposition parties said they would stand with govt during this critical time.”Responding to opposition criticism over India’s slow response to the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Rijiju said, “It was not delayed. The foreign secretary went on the first day when the condolence book was opened.”
