India's foreign policy done with level eyes: Modi

London, April 19: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India’s foreign policy is done with level eyes and that New Delhi has emerged as the key voice for the Third World on the global platform. “Neither do we look at countries with raised eyes nor with lowered eyes,” Modi said in response to a question at “Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath”, an interaction with the Indian diaspora here organised by the Europe India Forum. Around 2,000 people of Indian origin attended the event at the Central Hall Westminster where Prasoon Joshi, Indian lyricist, screenwriter, poet and marketer, acted as the moderator.

Explaining India’s foreign policy initiatives, Modi said he went to Palestine in February this year with confidence. The visit came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to India in January this year. Modi visited Israel in July last year in what was the first ever prime ministerial visit from India to the West Asian nation. “Why did not any Indian Prime Minister go to Israel in 70 years?” Modi asked as Israel marked its 70th Independence Day on Wednesday. Modi’s standalone half-day visit to Ramallah signified New Delhi’s dehyphenation of Israel and Palestine. “I went to Saudi Arabia as also I went to Iran,” Modi said. He referred to Operation Raahat in 2015 during which India rescued over 5,000 Indian nationals and citizens from 41 other countries from war-hit Yemen. Closer home, the Indian Prime Minister spoke of how New Delhi has played its role in the Rohingya refugee crisis by sending aid to Bangladesh. (IANS)