India does not need to adopt a hawkish foreign policy stance but has to be firm, responsible and strong in its resolve to deal with its neighbours, Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju, said here on Monday.
“Idea of India is as a symbol of peace. There is no need to adopt hawkish (foreign) policy. We are naturally a soft power. But soft does not mean weak. We have to be firm, responsible and strong in our resolve,” he said at the NIA Day function. Terming that India’s basic behaviour is soft, the Minister said, “We must not agree to a posture of war but have to be firm and responsible, besides being a stable power.”
Meanwhile, lauding the NIA, he said, “There have been apprehensions among the States about organisations like NIA and NCTC. But the NIA has proved that the apprehensions were ill-founded.”
Earlier, delivering the second RV Raju memorial lecture on ‘Pakistan and Neighbourhood: A Hawkish Agenda’, senior journalist Shekhar Gupta underscored various aspects of India’s influence, including its democracy, on the neighbouring countries.
“We can have good influence on our neighbours, we can have bad influence on our neighbours. Neighbours always look upon us…Every time Government change (happens) in India peacefully, it tells all its neighbours that this is what a country should do,” Gupta said. late RV Raju was the first DG of NIA.
India turns down ‘only US snipers’ proposal
India has said a polite ‘no' to the US for its proposal that only the American snipers be deployed on the rooftops of buildings overlooking Rajpath during the Republic Day parade where President Barack Obama will be the chief guest. With preparations for the high-profile visit beginning January 25 entering the last leg, top security officials of the two countries are engaged in sorting out such issues about deployment and other aspects related to protection of the world's most secured leader.
Furnishing a list of demands to their Indian counterparts, the US Secret Services officials wanted rooftops overlooking Rajpath as an exclusive domain for their men. This was politely turned down, officials involved in the arrangements said, adding the US officials were asked not to interfere in the security set up as the Indian officials are well trained and equipped to provide protective cover for the VVIP.