I must say it has been a pleasant experience to get bouquets all the way. But I would like to assure you that we will not be misled by it. We will always try to be vigilant and not be complacent. Whatever the good results that we have achieved, have been, the result of a very wise and far-seeing fundamental foreign policy that was laid down by the leaders of our country after independence. As a matter of fact, the roots of our foreign policy can be found even before independence. Yesterday, Shri Pande reminded us, and very rightly, that even during our freedom movement, namely the Indian National Congress had laid down certain aspects of our foreign policy. Naturally, with the changing world situation, some more aspects are added to it and sometimes, the presentation is changed. But the basic approaches have remained the same.
I think this is the reason why we have always come to correct judgments and a correct assessment of situations. Therefore, if at all any tribute or compliment is to be paid, it should be paid to the founding fathers or the architects of our foreign policy. Naturally, the foreign policy of any country cannot be some sort of a static thing. It has to be dynamic because it is dealing with a dynamic situation. As we see in the world today, the situations are such that one has to be constantly vigilant about it. Therefore, the foreign policy of any country has to be equally dynamic. But even then, certain basic tenets remains as guiding factors.
Here again, I would like to say that this is because the basic foreign policy tenets are rooted in our cultural heritage, as Shri Pande was mentioning yesterday. I was pleased to see him participate in this debate because he is one of our veteran freedom fighters who belongs to that generation which has seen the emergence of certain basic policies of India, as history was being made.
The striving for peace in the world, willingness to work on the basis of coexistence and co-operation with all nations of the world, the aspirations for an equal and just economic order and an unfailing support to the struggle, to ensure freedom and human dignity, are the guiding principles of our foreign policy which draw sustenance an strength from our cultural transitions and our freedom movement. This is really the basic thing that I wanted to say by way of introduction.
I was just wondering as to what points I should choose because nobody has made any specific criticism or suggested any options for our foreign policy. But certainly, some Members, did make suggestions. For the first time during this debate I have heard every speech-every sentence of every speech - and, it is very difficult to compare speeches. Naturally, some speeches contained some aspects and some speeches contained some other aspects. If I do not mention any names, please excuse me. Incidentally, I may mention some names, not by way of selection but because I may be required to refer to some of the points made by the member. There is one point that Prof. Dutt made, and as an academician, naturally, he has the facility of putting it in a very precise manner and in a very elegant language, I should say. I would like to read what he said - I got this “uncorrected copy” of his speech last night because I wanted to read and find out whether I heard him right. He said :
