Manmohan Singh, a former prime minister, praises the central government’s diplomatic stance on the conflict in Russia and Ukraine
Former Prime Minister and well-known Congress stalwart Dr. Manmohan Singh has praised the central government for its skillful management of India’s interests during the present Russia-Ukraine crisis. Dr. Singh praised the government’s dedication to preserving India’s sovereignty and economic interests in an exclusive interview with The Indian Express. He acknowledged the tremendous pressure on countries to choose sides in such conflicts, but highlighted the need of remaining neutral in the face of them.
Dr. Singh, who presided over India from 2004 to 2014 as part of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) that was headed by the Congress party, expressed his delight with his country’s position as the G20 Summit’s current host nation while highlighting the expanding importance of foreign policy in the modern world. In his words, “I believe India has done the right thing in putting our sovereign and economic interests first while also appealing for peace.” Dr. Singh underlined that rather than resolving security-related disputes, the G20 Summit should place a greater emphasis on policy coordination to address urgent global concerns including climate change, inequality, and boosting trust in international commerce.
Dr. Singh praised India’s position on the Russia-Ukraine situation but also issued a strong warning against using diplomacy and foreign policy as a tool for partisan political advantage. He stressed that India’s reputation in the world should be a home issue, but he advocated caution when utilizing diplomacy and foreign policy for political or individual goals.
Dr. Singh expressed sadness over Chinese President Xi Jinping’s decision to boycott the G20 Summit and hoped that Prime Minister Modi will take appropriate action to protect India’s territorial integrity and reduce tensions with other countries.
Even at 90 years old and as India marks 75 years of independence, Dr. Manmohan Singh is upbeat about the country’s future. He emphasized the need of maintaining social harmony and safeguarding India’s intrinsic diversity as the cornerstone of advancement and development.
Rahul Gandhi, the head of the Congress party, expressed a similar viewpoint when he said that the majority of opposition parties in India support the government’s stance on Russia and Ukraine. He stressed the normality of India’s relations with Russia, particularly in regards to oil imports in the face of Western sanctions, and maintained India’s right to keep ties with whatever nation it chooses, according to the Hindustan Times.
Rahul Gandhi also provided insight into the connection between China and India, emphasizing the need of a democratic and cooperative approach to production and economic independence. He advocated for a democratic approach to economic development and proposed that India and Europe cooperate to oppose China’s model of wealth without political freedom.
