‘Economic pursuits first’: Ex-PM Manmohan Singh backs India’s stance on Russia-Ukraine struggle

By Online Desk

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has backed the Indian authorities’s place on the continued struggle between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking to the Indian Express on the G20 Presidency, the previous prime minister supported India’s resolution to “put its sovereign and economic interests first”, whereas additionally “appealing for peace.”

The former prime minister’s remark was in response to a query on how the Indian authorities is managing its ties with Russia and the West amid rising geopolitical variations over the struggle.

“When two or more powers are caught in a conflict, there is immense pressure on other nations to choose sides. I believe India has done the right thing in putting our sovereign and economic interests first while also appealing for peace,” he mentioned.

When requested about the challenges confronted by G20 nations in opposition to the backdrop of the Russia-UK struggle, the veteran Congress chief mentioned: “The G20 was never envisaged as the forum for settling security-related conflicts. It is important for the G20 to set aside security differences and keep its focus on policy coordination to tackle the challenges of climate, inequality and confidence in global trade.”

Speaking about India’s G20 presidency, the previous two-time prime minister mentioned he’s “glad to witness” India internet hosting the summit throughout his lifetime. He added that India’s “foreign policy has been an important element of India’s governance frame” and that it has grow to be “even more relevant and important to domestic politics today than earlier.”

Asserting that India’s standing on this planet ought to “rightfully be an issue in domestic politics”, Dr Singh additionally referred to as for exercising “restraint in using diplomacy and foreign policy for party or personal politics.”

When requested about India’s strained relationship with China and President Xi Jinping’s resolution to skip the G20 summit, Dr Singh termed Xi’s resolution as “unfortunate” and hoped that PM Modi would take “all steps necessary to protect India’s territorial and sovereign integrity and defuse bilateral tensions.”

Responding to a query on the challenges forward for India, the veteran statesman mentioned he’s “more optimistic than worried” in regards to the highway forward for India, however cautioned that his optimism relies on the nation “being a harmonious society.”

“…my optimism is contingent on India being a harmonious society, which is the bedrock for all progress and development. India’s innate instinct is to welcome and celebrate diversity which must be preserved,” he mentioned.

Earlier this 12 months, PM Modi had instructed French newspaper Les Echos that India’s stand on the Russian-Ukraine struggle has been “clear, transparent and consistent” and reiterated that “this is not an era of war” — a comment he had made to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of SCO Summit in 2022.

“India’s stand has been clear, clear and constant. I’ve mentioned that it isn’t an period of struggle. We have urged each side to resolve points via dialogue and diplomacy. I instructed them that India is able to help all real efforts that may assist convey this battle to an finish,” Modi had mentioned to Les Echos previous to his go to to France in July this 12 months.

Incidentally, Modi’s “not an era of war” comment had additionally been adopted by the G20 leaders as a part of their joint assertion throughout final 12 months’s summit in Indonesia.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has backed the Indian authorities’s place on the continued struggle between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking to the Indian Express on the G20 Presidency, the previous prime minister supported India’s resolution to “put its sovereign and economic interests first”, whereas additionally “appealing for peace.”

The former prime minister’s remark was in response to a query on how the Indian authorities is managing its ties with Russia and the West amid rising geopolitical variations over the struggle.

“When two or more powers are caught in a conflict, there is immense pressure on other nations to choose sides. I believe India has done the right thing in putting our sovereign and economic interests first while also appealing for peace,” he mentioned.googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

When requested about the challenges confronted by G20 nations in opposition to the backdrop of the Russia-UK struggle, the veteran Congress chief mentioned: “The G20 was never envisaged as the forum for settling security-related conflicts. It is important for the G20 to set aside security differences and keep its focus on policy coordination to tackle the challenges of climate, inequality and confidence in global trade.”

Speaking about India’s G20 presidency, the previous two-time prime minister mentioned he’s “glad to witness” India internet hosting the summit throughout his lifetime. He added that India’s “foreign policy has been an important element of India’s governance frame” and that it has grow to be “even more relevant and important to domestic politics today than earlier.”

Asserting that India’s standing on this planet ought to “rightfully be an issue in domestic politics”, Dr Singh additionally referred to as for exercising “restraint in using diplomacy and foreign policy for party or personal politics.”

When requested about India’s strained relationship with China and President Xi Jinping’s resolution to skip the G20 summit, Dr Singh termed Xi’s resolution as “unfortunate” and hoped that PM Modi would take “all steps necessary to protect India’s territorial and sovereign integrity and defuse bilateral tensions.”

Responding to a query on the challenges forward for India, the veteran statesman mentioned he’s “more optimistic than worried” in regards to the highway forward for India, however cautioned that his optimism relies on the nation “being a harmonious society.”

“…my optimism is contingent on India being a harmonious society, which is the bedrock for all progress and development. India’s innate instinct is to welcome and celebrate diversity which must be preserved,” he mentioned.

Earlier this 12 months, PM Modi had instructed French newspaper Les Echos that India’s stand on the Russian-Ukraine struggle has been “clear, transparent and consistent” and reiterated that “this is not an era of war” — a comment he had made to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of SCO Summit in 2022.

“India’s stand has been clear, clear and constant. I’ve mentioned that it isn’t an period of struggle. We have urged each side to resolve points via dialogue and diplomacy. I instructed them that India is able to help all real efforts that may assist convey this battle to an finish,” Modi had mentioned to Les Echos previous to his go to to France in July this 12 months.

Incidentally, Modi’s “not an era of war” comment had additionally been adopted by the G20 leaders as a part of their joint assertion throughout final 12 months’s summit in Indonesia.