Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda on Friday cautioned the Narendra Modi government against resorting to a "reactionary language of economic boycott" against China, stating it could have "deep implications" and called for pragmatism.
Ahead of the all party meeting convened by the prime minister, the JD(S) patriarch appreciated Modi's gesture of inviting the opposition leaders paving the way for a "bipartisan environment" for discussion on the emerging situation on the India-China border.
Gowda sought toning down of the “nationalist rhetoric”, saying India should desist from using the "language of provocation and revenge".
"Media outlets spreading fake information and cheap rhetoric will only endanger the lives of our soldiers and diplomats. Social media retribution is of particular concern and the government must take steps to check this. By this, I don't mean critical mainstream opinion, analyses and reporting should be curbed," said the veteran, who was unanimously elected to the Rajya Sabha recently.
He also appealed to his colleagues in the opposition to refrain from using intemperate language. "This is an hour for co-operation. Domestic politics and national security cannot be equated. But I don't mean to say we should not question the government," said Gowda, adding that a senior serving military officer or diplomat must brief the opposition parties about the ground situation and the progress of the talks.
"Only with proper information can we hope for a meaningful exchange of ideas between the government and the opposition leaders. Right now, our only source of information is the media, which cannot always be accurate. We are not demanding classified details, but truthful information," said Gowda.
Voicing the concern of people over the country being surrounded by hostile neighbors, Gowda said, "The political leadership must ensure the citizens get proper information. Underplaying certain developments and overstating certain others is a bad strategy in the long run. Of late, there is an effort to politicise the armed forces, too. This is dangerous. Only when the armed forces are allowed to remain a professional force, they will advise the government fearlessly and correctly on issues," said Gowda demanding an inquiry into the deaths of soldiers in the Galwan Valley.
