India wants peace all over world: Lekhi over developments in Afghanistan

PTI, Aug 16, 2021, 5:44 PM IST

New Delhi: India wants peace all over the world, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi said on Monday over developments in neighbouring Afghanistan.

The newly-inducted minister of state was addressing mediapersons after taking part in ‘Jan Ashirvad Yatra’ in her constituency here. In reply to a question over Afghanistan, Lekhi, who is also New Delhi MP, said, ”India wishes peace all over the world.”

Taliban overthrew the western-backed government in Afghanistan and swept into Kabul on Sunday after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, bringing a stunning end to a two-decade campaign in which the US and its allies had tried to transform that country.

Addressing a press conference at Delhi BJP office, she said, ”People are supreme and I expressed my gratitude to the people and sought their blessing. Working for them with honesty and dedication is our goal as a minister.”

Lekhi also said it was the first time that several women were given responsibilities as ministers in the Union Cabinet and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for it.

She also lauded the prime minister for his ”farsighted” leadership in ensuring availability of Covid vaccines in the country just a month after it was developed in the world, and helping the poor with free distribution of foodgrains during the pandemic.