Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh’s latest outburst over the government’s policy on China is completely unwarranted. And it is unacceptable that he should say this while in China. As your editorial (“Loose cannons”, May 12) has pointed out, this is despite the government circular just a few weeks before Ramesh’s statement that only designated ministers would make statements on the government’s behalf.
But we also need to introspect, behind closed doors and not on Twitter, about what Ramesh has said. Is the Indian security establishment being too cautious? Chinese telecom equipment is being used all over the world and none of those countries are banning the equipment. Some years ago, a similar controversy had taken place over network operating centres being located overseas. Being security-conscious is important, but it is equally important to ensure that we don’t go overboard. Chinese companies have played a big role in driving down prices of equipment, and we may once again be forcing ourselves into a situation where a handful of European and American suppliers will rule the roost.
Arvind Gupta, New Delhi
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