Question : EVALUATION OF INDIA`S FOREIGN POLICY

(a) whether the Government`s foreign policy has received serious setback on many important issues :

(b) if so, whether the views of Prime Minister and other Cabinet Ministers differ on several foreign policy matters ;

(c) if so, whether in this connection Government`s attention has been drawn to the news-item captioned `Prime Minister causing incalculable harm to foreign policy` appearing in the Hindustan Times dated June 9, 2000; and

(d) if so, the corrective steps the Government proposes to take in this regard ?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI AJIT KUMAR PANJA)

(a) No, Sir.

(b) Does not arise, decisions on policy matters including those on foreign affairs are the collective responsibility of the Cabinet.

(c) Government has seen the news item which appeared in the Hindustan Times dated June 9, 2000.

(d) Conduct of foreign policy is a dynamic and continuous exercise to promote and protect our interests in the context of developments in the region and around the world. This is being done as necessary by the Government.