NEW DELHI: Pakistan should pay more attention to Sindh and other areas instead of concentrating on its low-cost war against India as witnessed in Kashmir and Punjab, according to defence minister Sharad Pawar.
Breaking his silence of a year, Pawar spoke on a wide range of subjects in an interview to “The Times of India”, Pawar looked confident as he replied with candor to questions. He summed up his own position succinctly when he said that not only all Congressmen but all Indians should give full support to the Prime Minister, P.V.Narasimha Rao, who was leading the country out of a difficult situation. His expectation from the Opposition in the context of the position on the Presidential election Put the nation above all else.
Pawar underscored the fact that while relations with China had shown substantial improvement over the last one year, Pakistan continued to instigate misguided youth in Kashmir and Punjab to go in for the cult of violence and subversion. He wanted all bilateral issues to be discussed under the provision of the Shimla pact, While Pakistan posed no serious military threats to India, he said, India would have to be ruthless with infiltrators from across the border. This approach had been adopted by the armed forces guarding the Indo-Pak border.
Unless Pakistan adhered to the Shimla pact for settlement of problems, he said India would have to give serious thought to strengthening its armed forces, Referring to Pakistan’s repeated attempts to internationalize the Kashmir issue, he said that press reports concluded that Pakistan was not interested in defusing tensions. He also pointed out that the western world was gradually realizing that Pakistan was “directly associated with terrorist activities in India.”
Asked about Pakistan’s allegation regarding India’s involvement in the turbulent developments in Sindh, Pawar said that Pakistan’s propaganda machinery could level any allegation, The fact was that India was not directly or indirectly involved. On the contrary, India was serious about confidence building measures. One example was the invitation extended by the Indian Army Chief to his counterpart in Pakistan to visit Punjab when Pakistan made a noise about Army deployment in Punjab, Pakistan did not accept the invitation, “Pakistan must realize that we have a democratic system, that we are a secular nation and that we have an open society. We don’t want to hide anything from anybody,” Pawar observed,
Asked about the controversy over the import of Russian rocket engines, Pawar said he was sorry that some developed countries could not understand India’s approach. India had tied to explain its position and the peaceful purpose for which the technology was taken from Russia. “We have continued with our space program and will continue with it. It is not for military purposes. It is to help the people in getting accurate weather forecasts and improving satellite technology,” he said.
While praising the government’s policy of liberalization and the end of the “license-raj,” he criticized those who had taken advantage of the situation. Was he referring to Harshad Mehta? “Yes. The government will deal ruthlessly with such elements and continue its policy of liberalization,” Pawar said.
Why was it that despite a Rs 3000-crore scam, not a single minister had quit, leave alone the government falling? he was asked. “The difference is that in this scam, the government took immediate action. It formed a special group to investigate the matter, arrested several people, conducted massive raids and issued an ordinance to confiscate property of those involved in the scam. That was a bold decision. In the Bofors case, the discussion was regarding the identity of the beneficiaries. Their names are not known. In this case, that situation does not exist. I am confident the government wills lake ruthless action against those involved in the scam. It has already demonstrated its will to act,” Pawar replied.
On Sonia Gandhi, he said she had devoted herself to working for the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. But some sections were quite unnecessarily trying to drag her name into politics and controversy. “She acted in an extremely dignified manner last year and we have full respect for her,” he said.
About the duration of Army deployment in Kashmir, Punjab deployment in Kashmir, Punjab and Assam, he said it was for the state government to decide,
I do not favor sending the Army to different states. Law and order is a state subject. We should keep the Army away from day-to-day administration.”
He was optimistic about the Kashmir situation improving in a one-year period. By then, it would be probably good enough to hold elections and install an elected government. Now, there was a sharper action in the Valley against pro-Pakistani elements. People there were fed up with terrorism as it blocked tourism and other business, affecting the livelihood of the people. He also noted the: fact that a large number of Muslims in Kashmir and Sikhs in Punjab were the target of lethal attacks.
Commenting on the government’s performance in its first year, Pawar said that the politics of consensus followed by “Narasimha Rao ji,” had created a good atmosphere and after two years of instability, there was now stability. Despite being a minority government, it had gone ahead with holding elections in Punjab and restored the democratic process,
Replying to questions on the CWC election held in Tirupati, Pawar said that when he contested the election, he had to take support from other state leaders if he had to win, There was no official panel as in the past. “As Congress president, Narasimha Rao ji kept aloof and left everything to the AICC members. Some of us helped each other. But it was not an effort against anybody. When we saw the CWC poll outcome, and when the CP expressed deep concern over no SC/ST woman being elected, all CWC elected members: authorized him to create the vacancies. This decision was also unanimous. There was no question of any syndicate being formed,” Pawar said.
On cantonment land, he said an unnecessary controversy was created. There was no proposal” which will destroy the environment of cantonment lands.
Asked about the difference he experienced in working as chief minister of Maharashtra earlier and now as defence minister, Pawar replied that in the state, he had to travel a lot to keep direct rapport — with the masses and work for 18 hours a day. “Bouquets and brick bats all come to the CM,” he remarked.
Here, I have got a restricted job as defence minister. I work 12 to 14 hours a day and spend more time in studying the intricacies of the subject. I am quite happy here more so as I wanted peace of mind,” he said.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 10, 1994
