Month: February 2023

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said that relations with China will not be normal until the issue of the face-off that happened at the beginning of the COVID lockdown is resolved.

While addressing the Forum For Nationalist Thinkers, Hyderabad Chapter Talk On ‘India’s G20 Presidency’ in Hyderabad on Sunday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the relations with China will not improve until the issue of the face-off that happened at the beginning of the COVID lockdown is resolved.

Notably, the lockdown during the COVID pandemic began in 2020 and the Galwan face-off between India and China took place in 2020.

The EAM said that today the world is taking notice of the change with which India addresses its issues.

While addressing the issues with China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) that happened in 2020, the EAM said that we must not forget that it happened when our lockdown had just started.

“We were completely preoccupied with the COVID challenge. Please appreciate the anonymity of what Prime Minister Modi did. He deployed forces at this great height in very difficult conditions in the middle of COVID. And then took this challenge head-on,” he added.

He further said while assuring,” I can tell you the entire world has taken notice of this. They have also noted that since then we have stood firm. We have made it very clear that until there is a resolution to this issue, our relations with China will not be normal.”

“The world takes note of that resolve and determination,” he added.

Recalling some similar incidents, Jaishankar said, “We were not so effective and determined before, we had occasions when we sent them unprepared. But now, whoever is sent is fully equipped and supported.”

He also spoke on how the infrastructure near the border areas has changed, he said that there is a challenge of infrastructure near the borders because it was neglected for a long time.

“Our roads in northern areas have doubled, and tunnelling has tripled,” he added.

“People today say that economy and infrastructure don’t matter. Let me tell you, it matters to the soldiers on the field. If we don’t provide them infrastructure, we are not doing them justice,” the EAM said.

The world is also noticing how India is dealing with the issue of terrorism. “Terrorism has troubled us for a long time. But the rest of the world compares how we reacted to 26/11, and how we reacted to Uri and Balakot. They see the difference,” Jaishankar said.

Speaking on how the world is taking note of India’s actions, EAM also addressed the “leakage problem” on a lighter note.

“I discovered many other countries also had a leakage problem. They asked us how did we fix it. We told them first we fixed the problem by having a different party in power. We then fixed it by applying technology also,” he added. (ANI)

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Congress’ 85th plenary session ended on Sunday with the ‘Raipur declaration’ stating that the grand old party is the only party which never compromised with the BJP-RSS as well as its despicable politics and mentioned that they are ready to work with like-minded political parties.

“The Congress party is the only party that has never compromised with the BJP/RSS and its despicable politics. We will always fight to protect our political values against the BJP’s authoritarian, communal and crony capitalist onslaught,” the party said in its declaration.

With an aim to address the three main challenges facing the country, the party said that it is ready to work with like-minded political parties on the basis of a common, constructive programme

“We are prepared to work with like-minded political parties on the basis of a common, constructive programme to preserve and protect the Constitution in letter and spirit and to address the three main challenges facing the country: growing economic inequality, intensifying social polarisation and deepening political dictatorship,” it said in a declaration.

At the plenary session, the party gave credit to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and lakhs of citizens, including workers of the Indian National Congress, who walked 4,000 kms from Kanyakumari to Kashmir during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

“The Yatra took forward an inclusive and progressive vision of India where Constitutional values reign supreme. In celebrating diversity, equality and fraternity, it presented a clear alternative to the BJP’s vision of India. In a few months, we will be celebrating the centenary of the Seva Dal, a crucial grassroots organisation of Congress workers. This will be an occasion to impart fresh energy into our mass contact programmes,” it said.

The declaration said that the party workers and leaders must work with discipline, solidarity and complete unity to ensure victory in the upcoming Assembly elections adding the results of these elections will set the tone for the all-important 2024 Lok Sabha election.

“The coming year will see important state elections in Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana. Party workers and leaders must work with discipline, solidarity and complete unity to ensure our victory. The results of these elections will set the tone for the all-important 2024 Lok Sabha election,” the declaration reads.

The declaration said that the Congress governments in Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan are models for the rest of the country.

“As just two examples, Rajasthan’s Mukhya Mantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana and Chhattisgarh’s Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana have set the bar for other states. Our new government in Himachal Pradesh is fulfilling the promises made to the people in all earnestness,” it added.

The Declaration said that in the decade from 2004-2014, Congress delivered the highest-ever GDP growth, pulled crores of Indians out of poverty, and introduced many transformational rights-based legislations, such as MGNREGA, Forest Rights Act and National Food Security Act.

“The time is now ripe for a new vision to empower the nation’s producers and reboot the economy. MSMEs that have been destroyed in the last eight and a half years must be revived and made the engine of rapid growth and employment, through cluster-based skill development programmes for the youth, and dedicated funding and technological support for labour-intensive manufacturing,” it said.

It further said that the GST must be drastically simplified and significantly improved for the benefit of small businesses and traders, and GST compensation for states must be extended for another five years.

“Agricultural policies and reforms must be reoriented to place farmers and farm workers at the centre, and not only production goals. Farmers must be safeguarded through measures such as debt relief and legally guaranteed MSP. To ensure the fruits of rapid growth benefit all sections of society, Sampoorna Samajik Suraksha must be introduced, especially a women-centric NYAY programme and a Universal Right to Health Act. To cement the foundations of social justice an immediate Caste Census is critical,” it said.

The declaration also said that India awaits a reinvigorated Congress and we owe it to the people to fulfill their expectations.

Crores of workers of the Congress party must build on the momentum of the Bharat Jodo Yatra to defeat the divisive forces of the BJP and RSS. A mass awareness campaign will be launched against the crudest example of crony capitalism which the entire country and the world is seeing. We end the Raipur plenary with a renewed resolve and a common purpose to build a stronger and united India,” it added.

The 85th plenary session of the Congress began on Friday in Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh. (ANI)

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