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China is the real danger: Krishna Rao

By Our Staff Reporter

Vijayawada, Jan. 1. The former chief of the Army Staff, Gen. K.V. Krishna Rao, has predicted a fresh bout of aggression by China against the country in the near future.

"China is the real enemy for the country but not Pakistan. We are capable of finishing Pakistan with ease", he said participating in a get-together programme organised by the Vijayawada Book Festival Society on the eve of the inaugural of its 14th book festival here.

"China has embarked on modernising its armed forces. Soon after the modernisation process, China is likely to do the kind of escapade which it did in 1962," he said, cautioning that China's "good-looking postures" could not be taken without a pinch of salt. "A superpower (China) is in the making in our neighbourhood. We cannot afford to be passive onlookers to the phenomenon as it (China) has the dubious track record of cheating our country in the past," he said, saying that the North-East located on the Indo-China borders was a strategic point for the country in terms of defence and that any casual approach on this crucial score would jeopardise the security interests of the country.

He wanted the Centre to design a long-term programme to modernise the country's armed forces. He mooted the allocation of at least four per cent of the budgetary allocation for the purpose for a period of 10 years. "We should aim to develop missiles in such a way that they can reach out to any part in China and hit the target," he added.

On the Kashmir issue, Gen. Krishna Rao, who served as the Governor of the trouble-prone State, commented that it was too early to judge the performance of its new Chief Minister, Mufti Mohhammad Sayeed, in handling militancy. He also expressed reservations over the "spree of freeing hardcore militants from prisons." However, he said, the Mufti should be given a free hand in tackling terrorism.

Making a strong case in favour of retaining Article 370 of the Constitution, which provides for autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, he took an indirect dig at the advocates of its repeal.

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