Naik was speaking at a function to mark the death anniversary of the former prime minister here.
"Sitharaman should take inspiration from late Indira Gandhi. She should deal with Pakistan from a position of strength and should not be a mere showpiece which Prime Minister Narendra Modi would like her to be," said Naik, a former MP.
Since prime minister Modi has chosen a woman to helm the defence ministry, he should encourage her to be like Indira Gandhi who liberated Bangladesh showing strength and determination, and taught Pakistan a lesson of a lifetime, the Congress leader said.
Modi made a reference to Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi in his recent Man Ki Baat address only because of the approaching Gujaratelections, he alleged.
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