Former US Diplomat told Rahul Gandhi, “In the Coronavirus crisis, Modi, Trump and Xi Jinping had a chance to work together.”
New Delhi| Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today discussed the issues arising from Coronavirus pandemic with former US diplomat Nicholas Burns. The video of the discussion was released at 10 am on Friday. Burns said that India and the United States are the two largest democracies in the world. “Our military ties have strengthened. Both should keep their doors open for each other,” he said. Burns is currently a professor of diplomacy and international relations at Harvard University.
Rahul is a holding discussion with experts from different fields from India and abroad about Coronavirus and its impact. Prior to Nicholas Burns, Rahul has spoken to 5 experts in about a month and a half.
Burns spoke about 8 issues
1. No United Front Against Coronavirus
Burns said If there is an epidemic in future, both the countries together can do a lot for their poor. In the Corona crisis, Modi, Trump and Xi Jinping had a chance to work together. I think a better job can be expected if the next crisis comes.
2. Sino-US Relations
Nicholas Burns said that the US does not want to conflict with China. “We cannot separate ourselves from China. I am in favour of competition in a cooperative manner without violence,” he claimed.
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When you divide people, you're weakening structure of the country. But the same people who weaken the structure say that they are the nationalists: Shri @RahulGandhi#RahulGandhiStandswithPeople pic.twitter.com/3tdlAeKdT5
— Congress (@INCIndia) June 12, 2020
3. China hides things
“People are saying that China is recovering from Coronavirus, but China lacks openness compared to democratic countries like India and America.”
4. The tradition of non-violence in India
The sense of correcting ourselves is in our DNA. As a democracy, we solve this through a ballot box in free and fair elections. We do not turn to violence. This is the Indian tradition, because of which we love India right from the beginning.
5. Return of Ethnicity
“The murder of black George Floyd at the hands of the police was a terrible incident. For the last 100 years, Martin Luther King Jr. has been known as the great personality of America. He made America better. Mahatma Gandhi was his ideal. We elected African-American Barack Obama as president, but now the racism seems to be coming back. African-Americans are being mistreated,” Burns told Rahul Gandhi.
6. Trump is authoritarian
Burns said, “Donald Trump wraps himself in a flag. He says he alone can solve problems. I think they are authoritarian in many ways, but the institutions of our country are strong.”
LIVE: Shri @RahulGandhi in conversation with Ambassador Nicholas Burns. #RahulGandhiStandswithPeople https://t.co/hc2qThZcjH
— Congress (@INCIndia) June 12, 2020
7. America is the country of immigrants
Millions of Americans are holding peaceful demonstrations against the death of George Floyd with police excesses, but the president treats him like a terrorist. Countries should discuss among themselves. There should be a political discussion about who we are? What is the identity of our country? We are an immigrant and tolerant country.
8. Engineers needed from India
Hi-tech business people from India come to the US on H-1B visas. Their numbers have been limited over the years. There are not as many engineers as we need to run the economy. Therefore, India can help by sending its engineers. I think there should be least restrictions. We must work together to promote democracy worldwide.
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