AMRITSAR: The union minister of state for external affairs, R.L. Bhatia, has strongly refuted the allegation that India’s policies were being dictated by Americans and clarified that no power could browbeat the country.
Bhatia, who was addressing a distinguished gathering of Rotarians here, expressed the hope of improved relations with neighbors, especially with China.
Bhatia said that the country has strong resilience of power and would face any eventuality to put the economy back on the rails. He complimented the Prime Minister and the finance minister for laying special emphasis on the economic relationships with France, Germany, Japan and the EEC countries. The government was giving top priority for forging new alliances with these industrially and economically sounds countries for bailing us out of the economic quagmire.
The Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, had taken a number of steps to boost relations with China, Bhatia added. It would be in the interest of both the great countries of Asia to forge closer cooperation which would greatly reduce tension in the northern border and finally help us withdraw our armed forces. He foresaw a bright future for the country as it had the third largest skilled manpower in the world and would achieve dramatic results from the new economic policies.
Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 21, 1992
