New Delhi, June 27 (IANS) Senior government officials and leaders on Saturday welcomed the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s backing of New Delhi’s strategy of diversifying its energy sources, calling it a “big diplomatic victory”.

In an exclusive interview to IANS, Rubio said that India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is on its way to becoming a global power and increasingly participating in the decisions being made on the international stage.

Responding to Rubio’s statement, Chairman of Australia India Strategic Alliance Jagvinder Singh Virk said: “This is a big diplomatic victory. It shows what India is capable of. Petrol and diesel prices across the world have increased by around 50 per cent. In India, despite everything, diesel prices have not increased much and petrol has only risen by Rs 5, Rs 7 or Rs 10, which is less than 10 per cent.”

“So, this was a major achievement of Indian government in handling the war-related issues. And this diplomatic victory shows the kind of relations India has built. Now even America and others are acknowledging it,” he told IANS.

Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, asserted that ever since PM Modi took charge, “his only objective has been to strengthen this country”.

“Strengthen it at the social level, in terms of internal security, and also strengthen it against external threats. PM Modi has not left any stone unturned in doing so. Similarly, US President Donald Trump also came to power with the slogan ‘Make America Great Again’,” he said.

Echoing similar view, former Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta Anil Trigunayat referred to India as the world’s “largest and strongest democracy and the fastest-growing major economy”.

“Technologically as well, India has made significant progress, including in defence and security. Our energy security is also very important, and because of the Iran conflict and the resulting tensions, India has diversified its energy policies,” he told IANS.

Maintaining that India has its share of domestic issues, Trigunayat said: “However, today our foreign policy is robust and resilient.”

Former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) S.P. Vaid said: “India is perhaps the only country in Asia where, despite the West Asia crisis, there has not been such a sharp escalation in prices. Whatever inflation did occur, the Indian government absorbed it. The common people did not have to bear the burden of the crisis, thanks to the Indian government.”

–IANS

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