NEW DELHI: Diverging from the Congress line, party member and former commerce minister, Anand Sharma, has lauded India’s diplomatic handling of the West Asia crisis as “mature and skilful”, saying it has helped the country avoid “potential minefields”.“We are balancing it correctly. There is no other way. We can’t lean. We can’t tilt. That is what is called skilful diplomacy, that everybody is okay with you, and we have to keep this continued so the Indian diaspora is safe,” Sharma told ANI.His remarks, like those of colleague Shashi Tharoor, conflict with Congress’s stand that India supported Iran.Government has argued that India has to exercise neutrality due to, among other things, the concern for nearly nine lakh nationals who are working in Gulf countries, which have been targeted by Iran.Sharma praised Indian diplomats in Gulf countries. “We have to support them. They are holding the Tricolour aloft. They are working for our people,” he said.Sharma also urged India to take the lead in mobilising the Global South and strategic partner countries to collectively work towards the restoration of peace and order in West Asia.India and other countries dependent on import of crude petroleum, LPG and natural gas from the region face an unprecedented challenge, Sharma said, noting, “We are today confronted with one of the worst energy crises in history.”He said, “This national dialogue must be sustained. National unity and a mature response guided by national interest are the need of the hour.”
