Gulf countries have assured India that they’re going to have intolerance to any attempts to make discord after a sudden spike was seen during a number of faux Twitter handles of Arabic royalties emerged tweeting anti-India material. it had been conveyed to external affairs minister S Jaishankar during his phone conversations with foreign ministers of 5 West Asian countries to greet them on the start of the holy month of Ramazan. India’s EAM spoke to the secretary of state of Saudi Arabia and Oman on April 23 and FMs of Qatar, UAE and Palestine on April 24. He had earlier spoken to FMs of Bahrain, Kuwait and Algeria. Sources told WION, “Gulf countries are very sensitive to attempts to make social disharmony and have intolerance during this regard.” And “negative social media posts from fake handles have are available for adverse attention of those governments.” Earlier in the week it emerged that a Twitter handle @ pak_fauj had changed its name to Omani Royalty and tweeted anti-India propaganda which was quoted by many in Pakistan. The Omani Princess issued a press release later clarifying someone is impersonating her. During the EAM’s conversation with FMs of the Gulf region each side realised that such attempts also are “intended to make discord within the special relations that exist between India and countries of the region”. The secretary of state of the Gulf cooperation council countries also appreciated the “rich contributions made by Indians living and dealing in their respective countries to its growth and prosperity” with EAM thanking them for going the “extra mile in taking care of the welfare of Indians in these trying times”. Jointly handling the COVID-19 crisis dominated the talks with appreciation being expressed for India for sending medicines. Many Gulf countries have requested essential medicines like Hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol with New Delhi sending aid and supplies to the region on a billboard basis. India is sending Hydroxychloroquine to Saudi Arabia , Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Egypt and Palestine. As a part of outreach to the extended neighbourhood, India sent its rapid response teams to Kuwait to assist the country affect the COVID-19 crisis. The discussion also focused on the oil prices and its implications given the very fact that India may be a key marketplace for crude from the Gulf. New Delhi has also told them that it’ll give “sympathetic consideration” to the request of some Gulf countries to permit their medical personnel stranded in India to travel back. [SOURCE: WION]
