Shiv Sena advocates strong ties with China to ‘neutralize’ Pakistan

MUMBAI - The Shiv Sena Saturday advocated strong friendship with China if India wanted to ‘neutralize’ Pakistan and also secure a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

In an editorial in the party mouthpiece ‘Saamna’, the Sena said that it is high time India realises that the US will not budge over crucial issues like the UNSC and Pakistan without a nod from China.

“US and Russia become friends-enemies as per their mutual requirements. That is why, Pakistan is a member of both NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) and SEATO (Southeast Asian Treaty Organisation), which are like ‘godfathers’ for that country,” the edit said.

On the strength of these, Pakistan escaped US wrath during 9/11 attacks and even the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the latter despite having solid evidence of its involvement, the edit said.

Accordingly, India’s ‘friendship’ with the US proved to be a curse it said and argued that “we should make friends or foes keeping our interests as supreme”.

For instance, China is a huge economic power and has made huge investments in the US.

“The US cannot ignore this and hence is reluctant to help India. When US President Barack Obama came to India last month, he made the usual noises about the UNSC. However, later US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s comments on WikiLeaks brought the matter in the open before the world,” the edit said.

‘Saamna’ asserted that unless China gives its nod, the US will continue to hoodwink India on the issue of UNSC, and hence we should change our strategy.

Without bothering about the US reactions, India should extend a strong hand of friendship with China, for the mutual benefit of both.

It pointed out that the US president declined to meet Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama due to Chinese opposition, and even the Dalai Lama has never spoken openly in support of India on the Kashmir issue. It argued that there is no reason for India to continue unnecessary hostility with China - the repercussions of which it has borne several times in the past.

The edit said that “even China knows that the aged Communists in India have no standing in this country and hence it would be prudent to do business with the government in power”.

“India has already said that it considers Tibet as an integral part of China, and it can seek China’s reciprocity on the Kashmir issue and demand that it would not cast an eye on Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh) territory, and also stop supporting Pakistan’s terror activities,” the edit urged.

The two countries can also open up their vast markets to each other since China wants to become the world economic power, but cannot do so by supporting Pakistan.

“The friendship between India and China can be as lofty as the mighty Himalayas which separate the two cultures, but first the blots of betrayal must be smudged before strong friendship is created,” the edit concluded.