Team Herald
MAPUSA: Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar on Saturday termed that Doklam standoff with China has given a positive message of courage and commitment.
Speaking at a function at Anand Giri Keni memorial Hall, Khorlim-Mapusa, on the topic Indian Foreign policy for the 21st Century, the minister said, “Those who criticise Doklam are childish. It has given a positive message of courage and commitment. At Doklam we showed that this is not the India of 1962. The issue was resolved on diplomatic level and not a single bullet was wasted. Pakistan should learn something from China.”
The talk was organised by Saraswat Vidyalaya society.
“Our foreign policy is based on principles and to see that it gets goodwill from other countries. Not one inch of our land will be at risk and no person will die,” Akbar said. He stated that today terrorism is one of the challenges in 21st century.
“Terrorists do not believe in nation state but believe in faith and for them greatest challenge/danger is a country like India which is based on secularism. They are menace to harmony and the world” he told.
He said that the foreign policy is based on the idea that world is a family of equals and that whole world has responded favourably to this message. “21st century should abolish poverty and it can be done with the help of economic growth. Price of instability is bankruptcy and we cannot risk this,” he said urging all to bring back stable, mature government and leader, in form of Modi, who has already proven his abilities at national and international level.
He said that the future is in the hands of women.
Earlier, Saraswat Education Society secretary Dr Deepak Gaitonde welcomed the gathering while the programme was compered by Supriya Netravalkar.
Saraswat Education Society chairman Ashok Kenkre, Vice-Chairman Rupesh Kamat, Treasurer Ashish Prabhu Verlekar and other members attended the function.
