China's soft diplomacy of opening Confucius Institutes in Nepal has caused concern in India. Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore expressed apprehensions that the next generation of intellectuals in the Hindu nation could be leaning towards China.
Hundreds of Confucius Institutes have sprung up across the world, including in Kathmandu where it was opened around seven years ago. "China is opening Confucius Centres in Nepal. Its next generation of intellectuals would have a pro-China tilt," he said.
Rathore spoke of this while laying down his defence concerns at a "Dialogue on Defence" organised by the RSS' Organiser and Panchjanya to launch their Republic Day Special editions. He said though China was an atheist regime and Pakistan believed in Islam, the two had got close for tactical reasons to keep India at bay.
He also said certain regional parties in the Indian hinterland were promoting Islam or its bad elements. "There is a vocal minority and a silent majority. It is necessary for the silent majority to become vocal or at least voice its opinion," he said. However, the minister did not name any regional party.
According to him, Afghanistan could help in "neutralising" Pakistan. "Taliban is reported to have captured three provinces in Afghanistan... On the one hand there is IS and the other three provinces are with Taliban."
Referring to the "string of pearls", he said it was a way of pushing India off the Indian Ocean.
On the Maoists issue, he said, "It is clear now that they are not fighting the poor anymore. Its an ideological war with India." The minister, a former army man, said it was important to guide the youth in the right direction. "Europe is aging and so is China. Only India has youth power... The youth can be destructive or optimistic.... The youth should be shown the right direction."
