Jaishankar Reveals Nehru’s Controversial Remark

In Ahmedabad, the Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, directed his remarks towards Jawaharlal Nehru, attributing past missteps to current predicaments like the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) issue and China’s occupation of certain Indian territories.

Recalling India’s stance when offered a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, he recounted a period when Nehru, the inaugural prime minister of the nation, advocated for “India second, China first.” Addressing queries at the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jaishankar responded to whether India should accept the status quo regarding POK and Chinese-occupied Indian lands, or strive to reclaim them.

Significantly, in recent days, members of the BJP have also criticized past Congress administrations under Nehru and Indira Gandhi for surrendering the island of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka.

“In 1950, Sardar Patel, the then Home Minister, cautioned Nehru about China. Patel alerted Nehru that for the first time, India faced a dual-front situation (Pakistan and China), an unprecedented challenge. Patel expressed skepticism about Chinese assurances, advising precautionary measures,” the minister remarked.

“Nehru dismissed Patel’s concerns, deeming them unwarranted suspicion of the Chinese. He asserted that an attack from the Himalayas was implausible. Nehru’s dismissal of the Chinese threat was absolute,” Jaishankar remarked, highlighting subsequent events.

“Furthermore, during discussions about a permanent UN Security Council seat, Nehru’s stance was that India deserved the seat, but China should be prioritized. Presently, we adhere to an ‘India first’ policy, but there was a time when Nehru advocated ‘India second, China first,'” he stated.

Patel objected to involving the Kashmir issue in the UN due to his understanding of the judge’s predisposition, Jaishankar added.

“If you anticipate partiality from the judge, would you seek justice from them? Yet, that’s precisely what happened; the matter was taken to the UN, leading to immediate pressure to halt military operations to reclaim POK,” he explained, attributing current dilemmas to past errors.

“When discussing our borders today, some suggest revising them. However, our borders remain steadfast; we must never doubt that,” the Minister of External Affairs asserted. Over the past decade, the central government has endeavored to address numerous historical issues, achieving resolution in some cases while others require additional time.

“With regards to Kashmir, we possess a parliamentary resolution (regarding POK), which warrants universal respect,” Jaishankar emphasized. He stressed the importance of scrutinizing current positions while acknowledging past mistakes. Earlier, delivering a lecture at GCCI on ‘International Policy: Catalyst of Developed India,’ Jaishankar outlined five critical factors for economic development: production, consumption, technology, logistics, and demography.

Foreign policy plays a pivotal role in facilitating domestic industry expansion abroad, acquiring vital technology, and establishing logistical and business connectivity, he affirmed. Noteworthy outcomes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent US visit include the US agreeing to share jet engine technology with India after nearly four decades and three semiconductor chip firms agreeing to establish plants in India, Jaishankar highlighted.

“These achievements materialized when the Prime Minister presented these proposals to US President Joe Biden,” he remarked. India is collaborating with friendly nations to establish new business corridors, with the proposed India-UAE-Saudi Arabia-Europe corridor being one such initiative, the minister revealed.

Export promotion ranks among India’s top priorities, and Indian entrepreneurs can leverage support from the country’s embassies abroad to boost exports, he advised. Additionally, the minister hailed the Indian diaspora as the nation’s greatest asset.