India’s Citizenship Amendment Act is an Internal Matter: Russia

NEW DELHI: Russia, a P-5 member state, has described the Citizenship Amendment Act as a domestic issue for India.

“The Indian government is well aware of the Russian position on the issue of CAA. It is a domestic matter for India and Russia does not comment on such matters,” Russian Deputy Ambassador to India Roman Babuskhin said in an year end press meet.

Last week, France had also described CAA as an internal matter for India.

The senior diplomat also backed India on Kashmir and stated that India and Pakistan should address issue as per Shimla accord and Lahore Declaration instead of efforts by some countries to take matter to UN.

Referring to export of BrahMos missiles (jointly developed by Russia and India) Babuskhin said India and Russia are in touch with around dozen countries to export Brahmos missiles.

Recently Philippines had expressed interest in purchasing BrahMos missiles. The contract signing for the medium-range ramjet supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles, which are being eyed for coastal defense missions of the Philippine Army (PA), will be signed by the early part of 2020, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said recently in Manila.

He made this announcement when asked about the possibility of the Philippines having the missile on its inventory.

Aside from the PA, the DND chief said the weapons can also be used by the Philippine Air Force. Lorenzana said the procurement will be via “government-to-government mode”. Once delivered, he said the BrahMos will be the first Philippine weaponry with deterrent capability.

It is no secret that other SE Asians are also keen to purchase this missile, often described best in its category.

When asked if China can prevent Russia from selling BrahMos missiles, Babushkin said, Russia does not have military alliance with China and does not intend to form military alliance with Beijing in future. Russia ties with India independent of Russia-China ties, he remarked.

Source: ANI

Image Courtesy: ToI