"Everyone will have to fall on the same page," was the external affairs minister SM Krishna's message today to his junior Shashi Tharoor who had publicly questioned the new visa rules.
Minutes after Tharoor met him, Krishna said there could be different perceptions, but there is also a method and procedure to "sort out" those issues, and he was sure that his deputy minister "understands" that.
"The broad policy parameters are dictated, decided by the minister in-charge of external affairs of this country and everyone will have to fall on the same page," he said when asked if Tharoor and the ministry were on the same page.
Krishna had publicly rebuked Tharoor for using social networking site, Twitter, for questioning the relevance of tightening of visa norms in the backdrop of the David Coleman Headley episode. "26/11 killers had no visas," he had posted, and wondered if the new rules will make India a less welcoming destination for tourists.
About repeated controversies over Tharoor's tweeting, Krishna said, "I would request you to not generalise issues. There could be different perceptions.
"As I have said in my statement earlier, and if there are different perceptions, then I think there is a method, there is a procedure where we sort out those issues, and I am sure that Tharoor understands that."
He said the two also discussed the visa policy, but did not give the details of the talks.
"We discussed. With reference to visa policy, I think the home ministry, after deliberations, has come out with a new policy.
Whenever, a new policy comes into effect, there are bound to be repercussions, and based on the kind of feedback that the MEA gets from various sources, we take it up with the ministry of home affairs, and then if need be, we will suggest to the home ministry as to what needs to be done in this regard," Krishna said.
Replying to a question if, as the boss of the ministry, he was happy with the outcome of the meeting with Tharoor, Krishna said, "Oh yes. As the boss of the, ministry, as head of external affairs ministry, I am completely at peace with myself and the ministry. Everything is alright."
