National security calls for realistic approach: Manish Tewari

Chandigarh, December 28, 2021: Sri Anandpur Sahib MP and National Spokesperson of the Congress, Manish Tewari today said that India’s security approach should be based on realism and humility. “You either increase the defence budget exponentially or bring down the security threat”, Tewari said during an interaction after the launch of his book, “10 Flashpoints 20 Years” here today.

The book was released by former Chief of Army Staff General VP Malik at an impressive function which was attended by a cross section of society in the city. The function was organized by the Chandigarh Literary Society with the Rupa Publications, the publishers of the book.

The former union minister, who specializes in strategic affairs, said, India was in a serious situation as far as the security was concerned. He said the issue will need to be settled with China. For that, he added, it can be done with a sense of realism and with humility and not with a sense of jingoism. He said, it needs to be admitted that India’s power (in)equation with China is 1:5 in favour of China.

Speaking on the occasion, General Malik said that India was no way close to China in terms of “comprehensive power”, which not only meant military power, but economic power as well.

He said, China always had an ill will “kharaab niyet” and he agreed with Tewari that Chinese disengage only to reconsolidate and India needed to always remain alert and vigilant.

At the same time, the former Chief of Army Staff said, India’s defence and security record was more positive than negative. He said, for this credit goes less to the politicians and more to those who executed the political aim at the operational level. At the same time, Gen Malik had advice for the politicians saying that they should keep the army away from their politics.

Gen Malik agreed with Tewari’s observations in the book that India should have given a kinetic response to Pakistan in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

The book was introduced to the audience by Vivek Atre, a former IAS officer, writer and a motivational speaker.