One belt one road to serve Chi better: Madhav

By our Staff

Reporter

GUWAHATI, June 2: India Foundation Director Ram Madhav said that One Belt One Road (OBOR) reeks of selfishness on the part of Chi to meet its own needs to be economically sound amidst its sluggish economic growth and unemployment.

Madhav was speaking at an intertiol conference on India’s One Belt One Road challenge: Views from Northeast India organized by Gauhati University Centre for South East Asian Studies.

Madhav rejected the concept outright that India would be isolated if it stays out of OBOR. “OBOR is supposed to boost economic trade between tions by upgrading infrastructure,” referring to India he continued “Countries have their own choice to be or not to be part of a project. If conditions match to country’s interest it will definitely take part. Deals are made on interests on common grounds, not on sentiments,” he said. “India is with The Bangladesh–Chi–India–Myanmar Forum for Regiol Cooperation (BCIM) and Sanghai Cooperation   organization and BRICS, because it suits India’s interest,” he added.

Madhav took a dig at Chinese President Xi Xinping saying that the President is a man in a hurry to make Chi a global superpower as other Superpower like America under the new leadership is in the run-up to be isolated. “America under the new leadership is out there to be isolated. They have withdrawn from Paris climate agreement and other ambitious projects. Chi is out there to take a chance to replace America. The global situation is helping Chi,” he said.

Madhav further said that OBOR has always been a ‘Chinese solution’ and is out of purview of discussion and many countries like Japan and United States chose to stay out of it. “Any intertiol projects should be open to discussion, dialogue, transparency and mutual acceptancy. Trans Pacific Partnership took eight years to get filized. OBOR clearly satisfies only Chi’s needs and aspirations. Chi would use tural resources of the world in the process and no new projects are part of OBOR. People still have to understand how it works’ he said.

Madhav said that Chi’s OBOR is a 21st century version of the Silk Route and expressed concerns that by initiating OBOR Chi has harbored overpowered ambitions. “Over 60 countries have joined in covering up to 4- 5 billion people and 42 per cent of the global GDP,” he added.

Centre for Chinese Alysis and Strategy President Jaydev Rade said that with India opting not to be a part of OBOR questions have raised on part of BCIM “Northeast has to think big in this issue. Most of the goods produced in Myanmar and Bangladesh is not useful to India. Chi plays a vital role in this part. Assam and Aruchal Pradesh are tempting to Chi. Provisions should be made to export goods made, especially in Assam and Sikkim. Government should lay stress on developing air transit roads and airports as airport is cheaper to make than roads,” he added.

Gauhati University Vice Chancellor Mridul Hazarika and Centre for South-east Asian Studies Director ni Gopal Mahanta were also present at the conference.