Hindu nationalism risks pushing India into war with China: Chinese Daily
With the tensions rising in the Dokhlam Sikkim between India and China, a Chinese Daily has hit out at BJP led Narendra Modi government, accusing it of using Hindu nationalism in propagating the anti-China sentiments in India.
An article published by China’s Global Times, says that India considers China as a rival and a potential enemy.
“Anti-China sentiments are rising in India with an upsurge of nationalism,” it said.
The article further dwells into the past relationship between the two countries and said that China’s development is seen as misfortune in India.
“Since India’s defeat in the Sino-Indian War of 1962, some Indians have been stuck in a zero-sum mentality in dealing with China. The war inflicted lingering pain on India and it became a hard knot to untie, leading to an ingrained suspicion of Chinese strategy. China’s development is seen as a misfortune to India. The faster China grows, the more fearful they are,” the article reads.
“Nationalist fervor that demands revenge against China has taken root in India since the border war. The election of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fueled the country’s nationalist sentiments. Modi took advantage of rising Hindu nationalism to come to power. This, on one hand, has enhanced his prestige and ability to control the country, but on the other, has made India more subject to the influence of conservatives, thus hampering reform. In diplomacy, New Delhi is demanded to act tougher in foreign relations, especially toward countries like Pakistan and China. The border row this time is an action targeted at China that caters to the demand of India’s religious nationalists,” it said.
“The Modi government can do nothing if religious nationalism becomes extreme, as shown in its failure to curb violent incidents against Muslims since he came to power in 2014”.
The article lashes out at Indian strategists and politicians for ‘kidnapping’ the India’s China policy by rising Hindu nationalism.
“Where the China-India competition goes hinges on each side’s strength and wisdom. India is weaker than China in terms of national strength, but its strategists and politicians have shown no wisdom in preventing India’s China policy from being kidnapped by rising nationalism. This will put India’s own interests in jeopardy. India should be careful and not let religious nationalism push the two countries into war,” the article said.
Meanwhile, in the wake of Dokalam stand-off with India, China has moved tens of thousands of tonnes of military vehicles and equipment into Tibet, a report said on Wednesday.
According to the reports, the Chinese Army has conducted live-fire exercises in Southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region.
While as, India’s Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar told a group of ministers on Tuesday that China’s stand on the Doklam area in Sikkim border has been unusually aggressive and articulate. The Foreign Secretary who was briefing the parliamentary panel, assured the ministers that New Delhi is using diplomatic channels to ease out the tension that has grappled the two neighboring countries for over a month.
KV Correspondent
