HVK Archives: I don understand why there is such a big turmoil
I don understand why there is such a big turmoil - Outlook
Sunil Narula
()
May 18, 1998
Title: don understand why there is such a big turmoil. I
haven said anything new.
Author: Sunil Narula
Publication: Outlook
Date: May 18, 1998
Defence minister George Fernandes is unfazed by the brouhaha over
his statements. Excerpts from an interview to Sunil Narula after
his return from the Andamans:
You say what you expressed about China were your personal views.
Doesn't that bring you into a conflict with the government?
I have said that so far as my work as defence minister is
concerned, it is the government's policy which I have to
implement. I cannot have any personal policy whether related to
defence or a human rights issue or issues pertaining to democracy
movements. This does not mean that I will abandon my convictions
or commitments.
The PMO was worried that your statement could affect ties with
China. As defence minister it is my responsibility to make a
proper assessment of the security perceptions of my country. The
defence minister cannot do his job unless he also has the right
perspective of the challenges which the country's security forces
have to face. In the making of that evaluation someone may
differ. What I have said does not go far beyond what several
governments have been publicly stating in the annual reports of
the ministry of defence. So frankly I do not understand why there
is such a big turmoil over my utterances. It is not my words
which have been used but headlines written by sub-editors, and
they are now supposed to be my words. I never called China "enemy
number one".
The MEA statement of May 6 contradicts what you have been saying.
I think the MEA has a certain point of view where diplomacy
occupies the most important place. I have no quarrel with that.
Your statement from Port Blair was seen as backtracking. I was
not backtracking.
That morning I was told that TV had gone to town and everything
has been blown up. Then it was conveyed that the newspapers
headlines have been screaming that I had said something which is
atrocious and that I am opposed to any kind of talks, have
declared China as enemy number one and so on. So I thought that
it was necessary for me to make a statement. Then came this
question as to whether the PM had pressurised me and whether it
was at his behest. The PM had not telephoned me. Late that night,
I heard that the PMO had telephoned. I got in touch and the PM
told me what steps he had taken. I said I had also sent a
statement earlier in the morning. He said he had seen it.
Yet the PMO and the MEA feel you speak, they're left holding the
baby?
If there has been any kind of situation where they have been put
into difficulties, well I think I will have to be little more
careful. What else can I say? (Smiles.)
It is said that you are still behaving like an opposition leader.
Not at all. I am very very conscious of my responsibilities. But
I want the people to know about the challenges we face on the
security front. Because if they are not aware, then we cannot
forge a response. Nobody can deny that China has considerable
military clout. It has the largest military in the world, it is
one of the five nuclear powers, and I have a certain perception
about what we need to do to ensure the security of our frontiers.
Now making a statement that these are the perceptions does not
mean we should not have talks to resolve our problems. But we
should always be prepared to safeguard our territorial integrity
and in this I insist on greater transparency because unless the
people are aware of what sacrifices are needed, we will not be
able to get the requisite support in any emergency.
Don't you in the process play down the threat from Pakistan which
is perhaps bigger than China's?
We are fighting a proxy war in J&K, nobody denies the immediacy
of what's happening on our western front, but we are discussing
the whole question of national security.
You were quoted as saying India will not redeploy its forces on
the border or reduce its forces?
The media is obviously playing its own game. I go to a friend's
house for lunch. Hardly do I sit at the table when there is a big
noise outside by TV journalists gathered there. As I come down
someone asks: are you going to reduce our forces on the border
with China? Out of nowhere. I say no. Today it is the headline
that I am not going to reduce the troops. There is a joint
working group that decides that once we have reached a certain
phase of our talks we will both withdraw. Where is the question
of suddenly asking me, are you going to reduce the troops?
Do you think that you might develop some kind of political
differences with the BJP over your stance? I have absolutely no
differences with the PM, the BJP or any of my colleagues.
How do you see the strong Chinese reaction to your statement ? I
don't think they should have reacted this strongly. It was not
necessary. They should know that we are a society where we
discuss things openly, we don't have one person controlling and
pressing a button.
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