Pune: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday criticised the NDA govt’s foreign policy and said that Centre failed to maintain cordial relations with most of the neighbouring countries, for which India is paying the price.“There was an era of Jawaharlal Nehru who adopted a policy of taking everyone along. Today when we look at the world map, India’s neighbours, including China and Pakistan, are not with us. India sacrificed a lot for Bangladesh’s independence, but even it is not with us. There is a question mark over Sri Lanka’s approach after China’s influence on the island nation,” Pawar said at his party’s 26th foundation day function in Pune.When the Pahalgam terror attack occurred, Centre made some tough decisions and NCP (SP) supported them, the former defence minister said. “When it comes to national interest, our party will never bring politics. But there is another aspect — maintaining cordial relationships with our neighbours — which we need to think more seriously.”The veteran politician also said that his party, along with Congress and some of the Left parties, are focusing on certain sectors to contribute, keeping the interest of the country in mind. “There are some challenges for farmers, industries, and other sectors for which we will have to work unitedly. If we remain together with communal harmony, all these challenges can be overcome,” he said.Pawar’s daughter and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, who led one of the delegations of MPs to four countries to explain India’s stand on Operation Sindoor, said that India needs to continue to follow the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi.“During my visit I realised that all those countries still associate India with Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Indira Gandhi. While appreciating Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the leaders of those countries also remembered Gandhi’s and Nehru’s legacy,” she said.
