PM: To put behind abnormality in ties, India & China must address border issue

Rejects minority discrimination charge: Usual tropes of some living in bubbles

OBSERVING THAT stable and peaceful relations between India and China are important for the region and the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the two countries need to “urgently address the prolonged situation” on the border to put behind “the abnormality in our bilateral interactions”.

In an interview with the Newsweek magazine, Modi, referring to the slide in ties with China following the military standoff that began four years ago along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, said, “For India, the relationship with China is important and significant.”

“It is my belief that we need to urgently address the prolonged situation on our borders so that the abnormality in our bilateral interactions can be put behind us. Stable and peaceful relations between India and China are important for not just our two countries but the entire region and world. I hope and believe that through positive and constructive bilateral engagement at the diplomatic and military levels, we will be able to restore and sustain peace and tranquility in our borders,” he said.

On the Quad grouping that is seen as a counter to China in the Indo-pacific, Modi said, “The US, Australia, Japan, India, China: All these countries are members of many groups. We are present in different combinations in different groups. Quad is not aimed against any country. Like many other international groupings, like SCO, BRICS and others, Quad is also a group of like-minded countries working on a shared positive agenda.”

“The Indo-pacific region is the engine of global trade, innovation and growth and the security of the Indo-pacific is important not only to the region, but to the world,” he said.

“Through shared efforts and implementation of development projects in the Indo-pacific in the areas of climate action, disaster management, strategic technologies, reliable supply chain, health security, maritime security and counterterrorism, the Quad countries are demonstrating their vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-pacific,” he said.

On competing with China, he said, “India, as a democratic polity and global economic growth engine, is a natural choice for those looking to diversify their supply chains.”

“Given our strengths, India is now globally considered most suited for manufacturing worldclass goods at competitive cost. Apart from producing for the world, the vast Indian domestic market is an added attraction. India is a perfect destination for those who want to set up trusted and resilient supply chains,” he said.

On allegations of discrimination of religious minorities, Modi said, “These are usual tropes of some people who don’t bother to meet people outside their bubbles. Even India’s minorities don’t buy this narrative anymore. Minorities from all religions, be it Muslim, Christians, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain or even a micro-minority like Parsis are living happily and thriving in India.”

“For the first time in our country, our government has come up with a unique saturation coverage approach when it comes to schemes and initiatives. They are not restricted for a group of people belonging to a particular community or a geography. They are meant to reach everyone, which means that they are designed in such a way that there cannot be any discrimination. Be it amenities like house, toilets, water connection or cooking fuel or be it collateral free credit or health insurance, it is reaching every citizen irrespective of his community and religion,” he said.

Speaking about leadership, Modi said, “Listening is an important quality for leadership. I am god-gifted with this quality, and I have also cultivated it. Another quality that I have is that I am always in the moment. I am not distracted by phone calls, messages or anything else. When I am doing something, I am 100 percent involved and engrossed in that task.”

“For leaders, I feel it is important that they have a bottom-totop feedback channel. A leader should have the ability to connect to the grassroots and get unfiltered feedback.”

“There should also be multiple such channels of feedback, so that human biases and preferences get neutralized. I have spent at least a night in around 80 percent of India’s districts. So I have direct connections almost everywhere, which helps me get direct feedback. At the same time, it is important that guidance or instructions efficiently reach from top to bottom,” the Prime Minister said.