Shiv Sena criticises PM Modi’s China trip, asks if he is adopting Nehru’s Panchsheel policy

The Shiv Sena on Monday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his recent visit to China, which it said had no particular agenda, and questioned him on what was achieved by such a trip.

In an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, the Sena slammed Modi for not taking up crucial issues with Chinese President Xi Jinping, such as Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh, Doklam, Uttarakhand and Ladakh, during the two-day meeting that was described as an “informal” summit.

China is Pakistan’s biggest supporter, and it is backing Pakistan to make India unstable, said the Sena, a part of the National Democratic Alliance led by the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) at the Centre. .

“The leaders did not speak on the CPEC, which runs through Pak-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Manmohan Singh’s government had opposed the project and had raised it with the Chinese at a bilateral meeting,” the editorial said. “The foreign secretary clarified that none of the controversial topics were taken up during the meeting. So what did Modi do during his visit to China?” the editorial asked.

The editorial is the latest in a series of criticisms by the Sena of Modi and his party.

The editorial said Modi, who has criticised Jawaharlal Nehru time and again, seems to be adopting Nehru’s Panchsheel (five-point) plan for peaceful co-existence. “Pandit Nehru befriended China, and it proved costly. Modi does not miss an opportunity to criticise Nehru, but like the first PM, Modi, too, is adopting a Panchsheel policy in his dealings with China. He has become a supporter of the five-point agenda. What does the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have to say about it?” the editorial questioned.

Following talks with the Chinese premier, Modi had said that both sides can work on improving bilateral relations by focusing on a shared vision, strong relationship, shared resolve, better communication and shared thought process. “If we follow the path of Panchsheel, it will bring world peace, stability and prosperity,” he had said.