New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) Congress leader Udit Raj on Saturday said that improving ties between India and China would require more than high-level meetings and statements. Speaking to IANS, he further said that the two countries must engage in substantive discussions on outstanding border and trade-related issues.
Reacting to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s India visit and his remarks ahead of his departure that the two countries need to handle their differences appropriately, Udit Raj said the statement was a positive step but stressed that contentious issues must be discussed openly if meaningful progress is to be made.
Referring to border-related issues involving Aksai Chin, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, Raj said that unless such matters are taken up for discussion, it would be difficult to assess any real improvement in bilateral relations.
“There are several serious questions related to the border that remain unresolved. The government should give these issues priority during talks with China,” he said.
Raj also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy approach and accused him of focusing more on strengthening his personal image than on taking adequate expert advice.
Referring to India-China trade, he said India’s dependence on China has increased and that the trade deficit remains substantial. He argued that India should demonstrate stronger negotiating power in its engagement with Beijing and ensure that national interests remain the priority.
The Congress leader also claimed that during Xi Jinping’s previous visit to India, there had been discussions about major investments and business agreements, but the expected benefits had not materialised.
“If China is gaining economic benefits from India while our dependence on China is increasing, the government needs to make its strategy clear,” Udit Raj said.
On the increase in air connectivity between India and China, Udit Raj said there should be no hesitation in fully restoring flights between the two countries. Air links had been disrupted in recent years, with flights to some cities subsequently being permitted.
He said the economic interdependence between the two countries was significant and warned that disruptions in the supply of raw materials from China could affect certain manufacturing sectors in India.
Raj also pointed to India’s imports of a range of Chinese products, including items used during festivals, religious ceremonies and for decoration. In this context, he questioned the government’s claims about India’s growing global stature, saying there was a visible gap between such claims and the ground reality.
On speculation surrounding Congress leader Harish Rawat’s possible resignation, Raj said he did not agree with such a move. He said Rawat had not been in power for a long time and that if there were any issues requiring investigation relating to his tenure or decisions, they should be investigated.
“If there has been any wrongdoing at an individual level, action should be taken against the person concerned. Why should the entire Congress party be held responsible for an alleged issue involving one individual?” he asked.
Raj appealed to Rawat not to take any step that could unnecessarily affect either the party’s image or his own.
He said that if there were allegations or suspicion of disproportionate assets against any individual, the matter should be investigated in accordance with law, but the entire party should not be held responsible for it.
–IANS
brt/uk