As Sri Lanka votes in parliament to elect the brand new President of the nation, Indian High Commissioner to Colombo, Gopal Baglay, emphasised the significance India attaches to the essential island nation confronted with the worst disaster ever.
As excessive commissioner in Colombo, Gopal Baglay is focussed on guaranteeing that stability returns to the island nation and the nation steers its manner again to normalcy. Speaking completely to India Today from Colombo, he mentioned, “It is a privilege always to represent India in any capacity abroad as a diplomat. I have been fortunate to represent my country in some of the most important missions in the neighbourhood (Sri Lankan crisis, Pakistan – major dip in ties, increase in cross-border terrorism, Nepal – during the Royal massacre and the crisis thereafter).”
He added, “This happens to be a very difficult time for Sri Lanka and apart from the economic difficulties, there is also a political dimension now. As the high commissioner of India, I and my colleagues have been trying, with the help and guidance of our authorities in New Delhi, to extend assistance and support from India to the people of Sri Lanka in these difficult times and also strongly support democracy, stability and economic recovery.”
He additionally added that India and Sri Lanka are “soulmates”. Two nations who’re “twin brothers” and help one another via good and dangerous instances. He kept away from commenting on China lacking in motion when the nation is in disaster.
ALSO READ | Sri Lanka disaster: How the island nation descended into chaos; what’s subsequent | Explained
Rooting for democracy, the Indian envoy mentioned, “The 225 members of parliament will elect a new President who will complete the remaining two years of the current Presidential tenure. At a political level, the questions that have arisen will be resolved through a constitutional, democratic process. India supports the constitutional and democratic process that is being followed in Sri Lanka.”
ABOUT GOPAL BAGLAY
While the disaster is political and monetary, this isn’t the primary time that this Indian diplomat has needed to take care of a serious disaster overseas. Having served within the neighbourhood as additionally in Russia and Ukraine at essential junctures, Gopal Baglay has the diplomatic swiftness and tact to take care of crises and but guarantee India’s pursuits are aligned with the mentioned nation and likewise secured.
Baglay has served in varied capacities within the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, together with because the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry, Joint Secretary (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran) Division, Director in External Affairs Minister’s Office and within the United Nations Division and Deputy Secretary taking care of Eastern & Central Europe.
Abroad, he served as Deputy High Commissioner of India in Pakistan (2011-14) when ties between the 2 nations had been on a downward spiral due to the terrorist assaults from throughout the border. He additionally served in Nepal (2005-08) when the Royal bloodbath befell, resulting in a serious political impasse adopted by political upheaval. In different diplomatic capacities, between 1994-2002, he was in Ukraine, Moscow and London. He witnessed a lot of the issues between Russia and Ukraine throughout his stint in each nations.
— ENDS —
