China ‘bigger threat to India’ than Pakistan, says Pawar
   Date :13-Jul-2020

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MUMBAI :
 
 
AMID the border tension with China, NCP president Sharad Pawar has said China is a “bigger threat to India” than Pakistan. China’s military might is “ten times greater” than India, the former Defence Minister said, adding that Beijing has “weaned away” India’s neighbours to its side.
 
The Centre should try to put international pressure on China through negotiations and diplomatic channels, Pawar said in an interview to Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’. “When we think of an enemy, the first name that comes to our mind is that of Pakistan. But we need not worry about Pakistan. In the long term, it is China that has the power, vision and programme to act against Indian interests. China is a bigger threat to India,” Pawar said.
 
The “real threat to India is from China” which has become economically strong, he added. Pawar said China had turned not just Pakistan, but even countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka against India. India took the lead to liberate Bangladesh, and now the neighbouring country has signed a treaty with China, he said. Speaking about the performance of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Government, Pawar, who played a key role in the formation of the ruling alliance comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, said it would not be right to judge the Government on its performance in six months.
 
“The written exam is over. Practicals are pending. The student is working hard. So there is no need to worry about the result. In the six-month exam, the student has passed. I am confident the student will clear the next exam easily,” he said.