Keep border issues with China on backburner: Shashi Tharoor tells Centre

Former Union minister Shashi Tharoor on Monday said tension between India and China has increased in last two-three years and relations could be normalised by keeping border issues on the backburner, just like the UPA government did during its regime. He also said during the UPA regime, India did good trade with China but at present China was benefitted more as export from India was less than the import from the neighbouring country.

"The relation with China is not good. Tension has increased in the last 2-3 years. We (the UPA government) tried with China, what we wanted to do with Pakistan, that to keep border issues on backburner, as they are not going to settle instantly and to continue with normal relations," he said.

Tharoor, who was in Jaipur to deliver a lecture on "Rewriting history and redefining nationalism", also said, "We can continue with normal relations with them (the neighbouring countries) by keeping issues of border disputes on backburner". We did good trade with China but now China is more benefitted because the export from India is less than import. This is what needs to be adjusted by the government." He said the government should always give priority to the safety and well-being of the people.

"As far as the issue of Balochistan is concerned, Prime Minister has remarked on the issue but I do not know whether he wants to do anything on it or not," the former minister said.