The Centre has decided to send ministers to 68 countries that the Narendra Modi government has not yet visited since it came to power in 2014, PTI reported. Calling it a “massive outreach programme”, the news agency said the Centre has assigned various ministers to various countries hoping the move will enhance bilateral ties.
Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Hungary, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will head to Estonia and Latvia, and Parliamentary Minister Ananth Kumar will go to Tongo. Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan will be sent to Mauritius.
The news agency reported that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has sent out a letter to the effect stating that all the visits will be completed before the end of the year. The ambassadors to each country will organise the trips, and the ministers can put in requests to have particular places of interest added to their itineraries.
On the same day, Home Ministry officials said Singh will go to Russia and the United States next week to discuss terrorism in South Asia. He is expected to raise the subjects of both Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and the so-called Islamic State’s activities in the region, The Indian Express reported.
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