New Delhi: The External Affairs Ministry (MEA) on Thursday reacted to the recent deaths of five Indian students in the United States. MEA clarified that there was "no foul play or interconnectedness" in the incidents.
Addressing a weekly press briefing in the national capital, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal provided details about the circumstances involving the deaths of two Indian nationals and three individuals of Indian origin who were US nationality.
"There are 5 Indian students who have died...that also includes students from India diaspora, of this 5, 2 are India nationals and rest 3 are of Indian origin but US nationals," Jaiswal said.
In the case of Vivek Saini, who was brutally killed with repeated blows from a hammer by a homeless man inside a store in Lithonia, Georgia, US on January 29, the MEA spokesperson said, "culprit behind Vivek Saini's murder has been arrested, local authorities are investigating the matter and taking it forward."
In another case at the University of Cincinnati, the preliminary report suggests no foul play, although the medical report is awaited, the MEA spokesperson said.
"The second case of an Indian student in the University of Cincinnati. He passed away also. There is no foul play. This is what the preliminary report says. No foul play in that particular case as well. But we await the medical report," Jaiswal said.
The MEA spokesperson further stated there there is no connection between the incidents. Furthermore, he mentioned that the MEA is actively collaborating with local authorities, consulates, and missions to assist the affected families.
"The other three deaths that have happened are those of people of Indian origin who are US nationals. We are in touch with local authorities there in the cases of Indian nationals. As also our consulate and our mission they are in touch with family members. They are also in touch with the students," Jaiswal said.
MEA On Maldives
The Ministry of External Affairs said that India will replace military personnel at aviation platforms in the Maldives with competent Indian technical personnel.
The Mohamed Muizzu-led Maldives government has formally requested that India withdraw its troops from Male.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing, Jaiswal said, "What we had to say, we made it out in the press release. This was done after the second high-level core group meeting. We also said that the third core group meeting will be subsequently held." "I would like to say, the present personnel will be replaced by competent Indian technical personnel," Jaiswal said.
“We have seen media reports about the Canadian commission enquiring into …We strongly reject all such baseless allegations of Indian interference in Canadian elections,” the MEA Spokesperson said.
“It is not the government of India’s policy to interfere in democratic processes of other countries. In fact, quite on the reverse, it is Canada which has been interfering in our internal affairs,” Jaiswal said. “We have been raising this issue regularly with them. We continue to call on Canada to take effective measures to address our core concerns,” he added.
The allegations against India came amid a severe downturn in ties between the two countries following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations in September last year of “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Surrey city.
New Delhi, however, rejected Trudeau’s allegations as “absurd” and “motivated” and accused Canada of giving space to Khalistani extremists targeting India.