HD Devegowda, Former Prime Minister, and current Rajya Sabha MP today urged the for toning down “nationalist rhetoric” in a statement released on the India-China conflict.
The statement comes ahead of an all-party meeting, on the border issue with China, set to be held on Friday evening.
“In order to ensure that we do not escalate matters, I sincerely urge that nationalist rhetoric should be toned down. This is not the time for a language of provocation and revenge.
Devegowda while fully appreciating PM Modi´s decision to call the all-party meet listed a series of suggestions to ensure a conducive environment for a bipartisan environment for discussions in the statement letter.
My statement on the India-China Border issue in the backdrop of the Prime Minister’s meeting with opposition leaders. pic.twitter.com/wYTu4sI6LO
— H D Devegowda (@H_D_Devegowda) June 19, 2020
He also said a detailed presentation should be made by a senior serving military officer and diplomat on the ground situation for opposition leaders at the all-party meeting on the border situation for a “meaningful” exchange of views.
He urged his colleagues in the parliament to refrain from using “intemperate” language. He also cautioned the government against encouraging calls for an economic boycott of Chinese products in the backdrop of the death of 20 Indian soldiers in the Gwalwan Valley face-off. “Its implications are deep. We should be guided by pragmatism,”.
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Media outlets spreading fake information and cheap rhetoric endanger the lives of our soldiers and diplomatic staff,” Deve Gowda said. The social media retribution was of particular concern, he said, adding the government should take steps to check this.
“By this, I do not mean that critical mainstream opinions, analysis, and reporting should be stopped,” he added.
On Thursday, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan appealed to people to boycott products from China and also directed officials of his ministry not to procure any Chinese products for day-to-day office use while his ministerial colleague Ramdas Athawale said all restaurants and hotels that sell Chinese food in India should be closed down.
His remarks came amid rising voices for a boycott of China-made products after a violent clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh left 20 Indian Army personnel dead early this week.
“Only with this information could there be a meaningful exchange of ideas between the government and the opposition leaders… The demand here is not for classified details, but truthful information,” he said.
