China has transformed not only Pakistan, but even countries like Nepal, Bangladesh against India, he said.
Mumbai:
Amidst border tension with China, NCP President Sharad Pawar said that China was “a greater threat to India” than Pakistan.
China’s military might is “ten times greater” than India’s, said the former defense minister, adding that Beijing had “weaned” India’s neighbors by its side.
The Center should try to pressure China through negotiations and diplomatic channels, said Pawar in an interview with the mouthpiece of Shiv Sena “ Saamana ”.
The second in the three-part series of interviews was published in the daily Marathi on Sunday.
“When we think of an enemy, the first name that comes to mind is Pakistan. But we don’t have to worry about Pakistan. In the long run, China has the power, the vision and agenda for acting against Indian interests. ” China poses a greater threat to India, “said Pawar.
The “real threat to India comes from China” which has become economically strong, he added.
“By creating an image of camaraderie, you cannot solve problems between two countries,” he said, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handshakes and hugs with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the the latter’s visit to India.
Asked about the clash between Chinese and Indian soldiers in Galwan Valley in Ladakh last month, Mr. Pawar said: “When I say there should be no politics on the issue, it is because we we can attack them. But the whole country will have to pay a high price in case of reprisals for the attack. “
“Instead of hitting, we must try to put pressure on the Chinese diplomatic negotiations and channels,” he said.
Pawar said China has turned not only Pakistan, but even countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka against India.
“When (Narendra) Modi first became Prime Minister, he went to Nepal to offer prayers at the Pashupatinath temple. (PM) Modi praised Nepal, calling him friend of India and of the Hindu First Nation. Now Nepal is not with us, but on the Chinese side, “said the former Union minister.
India has taken the initiative to liberate Bangladesh and the neighboring country has now signed a treaty with China, he said.
“China has weaned all of its neighbors from its side. This is the contribution of the recent period,” said Prime Minister Pawar in an apparent reference to the Modi government.
He said that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi were still blamed for their management of China and Pakistan. “But, during Nehru’s tenure, India and China shared warm relations,” he said.
Jawaharlal Nehru was of the opinion that China would one day become a superpower and that India should maintain a cordial relationship with it because the tensions were not beneficial to either country, he said.
Speaking about the current state of the Indian economy, Pawar said Prime Minister Modi should consult economists and experts like Manmohan Singh to revive the economy.
“When Manmohan Singh was Union Finance Minister, he gave a new direction to the Indian economy. I was also part of this Union cabinet. I credit Singh and the late P V. Narasimha Rao for the turnaround of the economy after the crisis, “he said.
Targeting the Center, he said there was no dialogue between the Modi government and the leaders of other parties.
When Manmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram were finance ministers, they were in constant contact with experts and political leaders transcending party lines to hear their views on the various problems facing the country.
Speaking about the performance of the Maharashtra government led by Uddhav Thackeray, Mr. Pawar, who played a key role in forming the ruling alliance including the Shiv Sena, the NCP and Congress, said he it would not be fair to judge the government on its performance in six months.
“The written exam is finished. The practical work is in progress. The student is working hard. So there is no need to worry about the result. In the six-month exam, the student passed. I am confident that the student will easily pass the next exam, “he said.
