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This is an archive article published on June 21, 2004

China not enemy No 1: Pranab

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said he did not think China was India’s ‘Enemy No 1’ as declared by former Defence mi...

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Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said he did not think China was India’s ‘Enemy No 1’ as declared by former Defence minister George Fernandes.

‘‘I don’t have the luxury of using words in such superlative language about any country,’’ Mukherjee said in Kolkata. ‘‘We want good relations with all countries including China and Pakistan. But at the same time, I must say that we are always ready for any eventuality,’’ he said.

The Defence Minister also said ongoing defence exercises with countries like the US would go on. ‘‘There is no question of scrapping defence exercises on with those countries,’’ Mukherjee said.

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Turning to state politics, Mukherjee said: ‘‘We are not happy with the results of our party in West Bengal in the Lok Sabha elections. Our aim is to come to power in the state. For that we will have to work hard.’’

About the CPI(M)’s allegation that Mukherjee took recourse to campaigning on communal lines and spent a lot of money to win elections at Jangipur in the last elections, Mukherjee said the CPI(M) was spreading canards to malign him.

He also said the Congress would think about whether they would keep the Congress-led zilla parishad at Malda which is supported by Trinamool and BJP, a unique thing made possible by Congress leader A.B.A. Ghani Khan Choudhury, alive. ‘‘I will speak to Barkatda about this,’’ Mukherjee said.

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