New Delhi:In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat, former External Affairs Minister Kunwar Natwar Singh spoke at length about the prevailing situation in Kashmir, tensions between nuclear-neighbours India and Pakistan, and the sorry state of the Congress, the party which he diligently served.
'India made a mistake by taking Kashmir issue to UN under Chapter-6'
Commenting on the ongoing Indo-Pak tension on Kashmir, Singh said that India made a mistake in 1947-48 by taking the issue to the UN under Chapter-6 of the UN Charter.
"On Mountbatten's insistence, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru took the Kashmir issue to the UN Security Council. We committed a mistake by taking the issue to UNSC under Chapter-6, which deals with disputes. We should have taken it under chapter-7, which deals with aggression," he said.
He further added that in a way, India itself accepted that Kashmir was a disputed territory.
Recalling that even Mahatma Gandhi was not in favour of independence for Kashmir, he said, "Nehru wrote a note to Gandhi with three options on Kashmir: It could go to India or Pakistan, or it would have independent status. Gandhiji struck off the independent status option."
'Imran Khan great cricketer, but does not know politics'
Opining that the world is now 'fatigued' with Pakistan constantly bringing up Kashmir, he said that almost everyone agreed that it is a bilateral issue.
"About 65 per cent of Pakistan's Foreign Office work is on Kashmir. They are obsessed with Kashmir. Pakistan has internal issues, the nation is impoverished. It has been under military-rule for 50-60 years. The current Prime Minister is a good man, great cricketer, but does not know politics," he said, taking a potshot at Imran Khan.
'Majority of India with Modi on Article 370'
Calling the Centre's decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 of the Constitution a 'right' move, he said that the majority of the nation was with PM Modi.
"We should have one Constitution, one flag. Rest of the country should be able to buy land and property in Kashmir, but I do not think anyone will owing to the situation," he added.
'Indian Army should not make such statements'
Reacting to Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat's recent statement that the forces were ready for action in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), Singh said the Army should refrain from making such statements.
"He (Bipin Rawat) is the first Army chief to make such a statement. There is absolutely no chance that he was asked to make such a statement. Our policy is that the army does not speak on such issues. This is our democracy's strength, unlike our neighbours where the military interferes," he said.
Former External Affairs Minister Kunwar Natwar Singh on the ongoing Indo-Pak tension on Kashmir 'Once Kashmir shutdown ends, govt should be ready'
Opining that the government should be ready to deal with the situation in Kashmir once the shutdown ends, he said the leaders currently under house-arrest will obviously react once released.
"The leaders under house-arrest will eventually have to be released someday. They will do something when released," he said.
"What has been happening for the past six weeks, should not be continued further. It should be ended, but extremely carefully," he added.
'Pakistan must not be given much importance'
Stating that Pakistan would obviously try to take advantage of the situation in Kashmir, Singh said that India must not give much importance to what Islamabad does.
"When I was the Foreign Minister, I said we would never reply to Pakistan. When India does not reply, Pakistan is frightened. But when we do, they are happy thinking that they are on par with us," he said.
"At the UN, if Imran Khan says something, we will have to respond. But our Foreign Minister should not be the one to reply. The first secretary in the office should be sent to give a reply," he added.
'No question of war, Pak should not forget 1971'
Brushing aside any possibility of war between the two nuclear nations on Kashmir, Singh said Pakistani Army is no match for the Indian Army.
"There is no question of war. They should not forget 1971. Pakistani Army is no match for the Indian Army. There have been four wars, they were beaten every single time," he said.
'Cong leaders should learn from Manmohan Singh'
"Manmohan Singh carefully weighs his words before speaking. Congress should learn something from him. The lesser you speak, the better," he said, indicating that it was not as if the former Prime Minister never spoke on pressing issues.
"If one refrains from making unnecessary opinions, then Pakistan will never get a chance to take your statements to the UN, as they did with Rahul Gandhi," he added.
Former MEA discusses Kashmir issue 'Modi the only proper leader today, impact of Gandhis falling'
Adding that the difference between Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi was for the country to see in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, Singh said that the current Prime Minister is the only proper leader in India today.
"Congress began on its downward journey 15-16 years back. Though it was the Gandhi family that kept the party alive, for the past few years, Gandhi family's impact on the country has lessened," he said.
"Rahul said no Gandhi would become the Congress president. But Sonia Gandhi was given the mantle. I know she did not want it," he added.
'Nation needs a strong Congress, party needs young blood'
Stating that though Sonia Gandhi once had things under her control, Singh said that she was now losing it, and the Congress would need a change of guard.
"The old leaders cannot bring a change to the party. In 2019, people with a 1980s ideology won't work. There are young people within the party," he said, adding that the nation needed a 'strong' Congress as it was the main alternative to BJP.
'Cong needs to win at least 1 state to stay alive'
Interview: Former External Affairs Minister Kunwar Natwar Singh Commenting on the upcoming Assembly polls in the three states of Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand, Singh said that the Congress desperately needed to win at least one state to stay alive, even though he personally finds it improbable.
"If Congress loses all three states, they will be further weakened. Even if they manage to win one, there will be a political blood transfusion and the party will be re-energised," he said.
"Right now, they have MP, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and a few other states. But the government in MP has a slender majority, it can fall anytime. On the other hand, though in Rajasthan, they have a good majority, there exists in-party friction," he added.
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