External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday admitted that there is a delay in the issuing of foreign visas and said that at the ministerial level he had raised the matter with the Western countries including the US, UK, and Germany.
While addressing the Agenda Aaj Tak 2022 in New Delhi, Jaishankar said, "It is absolutely true and I have come to know that there is a lot of worry among the public, especially for those relatives whose family members are staying in a foreign land or for students who wanted to go to different countries for an emergency. And the visa issue is increasing in Western countries." "At the ministerial level, I raised this issue with the US, UK, and Germany, whose Foreign Minister recently visited India," he added.
Every week foreign countries are giving assurance that they are trying to improve it, Jaishankar said at the media conclave.
While talking about the G20 presidency, Jaidshankar said that India's G20 presidency is a matter of pride as the definition of this group is extraordinary. He further said that India is receiving the presidency at a time when the entire world is suffering from Covid, food security, and others challenges.
He also talked about the virtual meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended by Governors, Chief ministers, and LGs across India and urged them to make the G20 presidency a successful event.
"This is an opportunity for us to make the world ready for India, make India ready for the world," Jaishankar said at the conclave.
Meanwhile, in the virtual meeting, PM stated that India's G20 Presidency belongs to the entire nation, and is a unique opportunity to showcase the country's strengths.
Prime Minister emphasized the importance of teamwork and sought the cooperation of the States / UTs in the organization of various G20 events. He pointed out that the G20 Presidency would help showcase parts of India beyond the conventional big metros, thus bringing out the uniqueness of each part of our country.
India officially assumed the G20 presidency on December 1.
Davindra and Seema Misra, and Vijay and Gita Parekh
Varchas Patel with his father Vipin and mother Jayshriben
Hasmukh Shingadia and his wife Chandrika were all victims of the Horizon scandal
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)