Jaipur: Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot Thursday said India’s strength lies in its independent voice, not in “subservience” to any power, as he questioned the Union govt’s “silence” over the US submarine attack that sank an Iranian warship in Indian Ocean.Gehlot said India has historically maintained strategic autonomy in global affairs and has never compromised on its sovereignty or policies under pressure from any other country.
“From Nehru’s Non-Aligned Movement to Indira Gandhi’s fearless diplomacy, India has never bowed to pressure from any superpower,” he said.He pointed to India’s response under then prime minister, Manmohan Singh, who had withdrawn privileges from American diplomats in response to the row involving diplomat Devyani Khobragade in 2013.Gehlot said the country’s credibility would be questioned given the government’s response to the sinking of IRIS Dena, a visiting vessel, in India’s maritime neighbourhood.“Remaining silent on such unilateral actions by the United States goes against India’s ethos… and the pride of our armed forces,” he said. PTI
