Ahmedabad. The controversy over handing over the Kachchativu island to Sri Lanka had not yet subsided when criticism of the policies adopted by the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru regarding China and Pakistan started. Foreign Minister S. Speaking at an event, Jaishankar said that past mistakes are responsible for problems like Slave Kashmir (Pok) and occupation of some parts of Indian territory by China. Let us tell you that under an agreement in the year 1974, Sri Lanka’s rights on Kachchativu island were accepted.
Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar targeted Jawaharlal Nehru and claimed that past mistakes were responsible for problems like Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and China’s occupation of parts of Indian territory. Referring to India’s stand at the time when it was offered permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council, Jaishankar claimed that there was a time when the country’s first Prime Minister Nehru had said – India later, China first.
Question regarding Pakistan and China
Addressing the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jaishankar was answering the question whether India should reconcile with the situation in PoK and Indian territories occupied by China or make efforts to get them back. It is noteworthy that for the last few days, BJP leaders have been targeting the previous Congress governments led by Nehru and Indira Gandhi on the issue of handing over Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka.
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Remembered Sardar Patel’s warnings
Jaishankar said, ‘In 1950, (then Home Minister) Sardar Patel had warned Nehru about China. Patel had told Nehru that today for the first time we are facing a situation on two fronts (Pakistan and China), which India had never faced before. Patel had also told Nehru that he did not believe what China was saying because their intentions seemed to be something else and we should be careful. The minister said, ‘Nehru had replied to Patel that you doubt China unnecessarily. Nehru had also said that it was impossible for anyone to attack us from the Himalayas. Nehru was completely dismissing it (the Chinese threat).
‘India later, China first’
Jaishankar further said that not only this, when the topic of permanent membership of the United Nations (Security Council) was debated and it was being offered to us, then Nehru’s stand was that we are entitled to it, but first China should get it. should meet. He said, ‘We are currently following the policy of India First, but there was a time when Nehru used to say that India later, China first.’ Jaishankar said that Patel was not in favor of taking the Kashmir issue to the United Nations, because he knew the thinking of a judge there.
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Tags: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National News, S Jaishankar
FIRST PUBLISHED: April 3, 2024, 07:18 IST