Backing the Centre's stand on the Russia-Ukraine war, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said India did the "right thing" in putting its sovereign and economic interests first while also appealing for peace. In an exclusive interview with the Indian Express, Singh said the G20 nations should set aside security differences and keep its focus on tackling challenges of climate, inequality and confidence in global trade.
Manmohan Singh On Ukraine War
"When two or more powers are caught in a conflict, there is immense pressure on other nations to choose sides. I believe India has done the right thing in putting our sovereign and economic interests first while also appealing for peace," the veteran Congress leader and noted economist told Indian Express.
India has refused to condemn Russia and maintained defence and trade ties. However, it has also expressed its uneasiness with the conflict, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying "this is not an era of war".
Manmohan Singh On Foreign Policy
In his interview a day ahead of the G20 Summit, the former PM said he was "more optimistic about India's future than worried", but that optimism was "contingent on India being a harmonious society". Sounding a note of caution, Singh advocated for "restraint" in using "diplomacy and foreign policy for party or personal politics".
Singh was Prime Minister for a decade (2004-14) during which he participated in many G20 Summits.
On the evolving role of foreign policy in domestic politics, Singh said, "Foreign policy has always been an important element of India’s governance framework, but it is fair to say that it has become even more relevant and important to domestic politics today than earlier. While India’s standing in the world should rightfully be an issue in domestic politics, it is equally important to exercise restraint in using diplomacy and foreign policy for party or personal politics."
On Chinese President Xi Jinping's decision to skip the G20 Summit, Singh said it was "unfortunate" and hoped that the Prime Minister would take all steps necessary to protect India's territorial and sovereign integrity and defuse bilateral tensions.
Manmohan Singh On Chandrayaan-3 Mission
Lauding the Chandrayaan-3 mission, the former PM stressed that efforts over the last seven decades in promoting scientific temper in society and creating institutions were yielding results.
"I am really thrilled that the Chandrayaan mission, which was launched in 2008, has reached new heights by being the first to reach the south pole of the Moon. My heartfelt congratulations to all the women and men in ISRO," Singh said.