Despite the general mood of euphoria and cheer that has surrounded the Modi visit to China, how significant a step will it be in bringing India closer to China? We all know that 21 MoUs will bring in $22 billion and boost the ‘Make in India’ campaign (May 17). But what is more important is that the border issue is still in simmer mode and needs to be settled quickly. One hopes that the Prime Minister is well aware of China’s ‘tricky moves on this issue’. It should no longer be a case of more of a ‘give’ by Indian and a sizeable ‘take’ by the Chinese.
N. Visveswaran,
Chennai
The Prime Minister’s >jibe at past regimes, in India (May 17), in his interactions with audiences overseas is unfortunate and goes against established conventions. By casting aspersions on the previous government, Mr. Modi is greatly damaging the image of the country in the eyes of his overseas hosts. It is certainly not fair to blame the predecessor government for all ills haunting the country and especially when on a foreign visit. The averment by some that the Prime Minister made such observations only to the members of the Indian community will not wash as hawk-eyed media houses will report every move and word.
J. Anantha Padmanabhan,
Tiruchi
As usual, the Prime Minister seems to have enthralled the Indian diaspora, this time in Shanghai, with his electrifying eloquence ( >“My govt. has made expats proud”, May 17). His exhortion to our countrymen in China to play the role of social and cultural ambassadors so that the trust deficit between the two fast developing neighbours is reduced is fine, but the disturbing fact is that, intermittently, he did speak condescendingly about the UPA government besides flaying the rest of the Opposition, forgetting that he was delivering his speech from a foreign platform. It would be wise for Mr. Modi not to get carried away and curb his Opposition bashing sprees in a foreign country.
Ravi Mannethu,
Pullad, Kerala
