'I will not go begging for a UN seat'

Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral says he he has not conceded anything of ''vital interest'' to India in negotiations with the United States or Pakistan while pursuing the Gujral doctrine, ''nor shall I do it.''

In an interview to Doordarshan, Gujral said he was trying to project the country in a manner which would get it the maximum benefit. The Gujral doctrine, he said, intends to expand the concept of neighbours.

The prime minister said India, with its basic strength of a growing economy, single-digit inflation and a large market, will remain a hub so that various countries including the United States would themselves like to participate. At this point, he pointed out that all automobile majors wanted to build their cars in the country.

As for Pakistan, Gujral said India wanted good relations with that country. ''But we have a peaceful mission, and we know how to look after ourselves, especially in matters of security.''

Gujral said Pakistan's attitude towards India had always been paradoxical. He was confident that Nawaz Sharief would also like to improve relations with India, but the leaders in that country have a difficult situation, because democratic institutions there were still in their infancy and there was no single power centre.

The prime minister said that in the United Nations, ''we showed the strength of India''.

Referring to Pakistan's statements against India's demand for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, he said, ''If someone wants to degenerate India, I do not care.''

Asked by the interviewer Hari Jaising whether he had sought United States President Bill Clinton's support in this regard, Gujral said, ''I did not, and shall not request.... It is a question of perception. I wanted this as a matter of right. I will not go begging for it.'' He also asked if the United Nations could really be a world democratic body by ignoring India's one billion (people). He said Clinton could decide for himself whether the United Nations could be effective without India.

Gujral said the end of the Cold War had brought forth new realities. He felt that the United States had discarded -- "at least in my perception -- the prism of Cold War." He said the US could now see how India had grown stronger with a growing economy.

As for the denial of sophisticated technology by developed countries, Gujral reiterated what he had said recently -- that every denial has been turned into an opportunity by the country's scientists and technologists. ''I did not request technical support from the US. It is in their interest to come.''

Referring to the situation in the country, he said coalition governments had become a reality. ''The government has to work in a spirit of consensus and accommodation.'' He said the challenge before the government was to keep democratic polity functioning while ensuring economic growth and social justice.

Gujral pointed out that no state government could complain that it was not getting a fair deal from the Centre. He had often been advised to deal strongly with some states, but he felt that there was need for understanding and accommodation.

Gujral admitted that decisions took longer when there were 14 parties in the government, but said every decision taken in this situation had been unanimous. He had worked in several single-party governments, but he had never found the discussions so wholesome, he added.

On former finance minister Manmohan Singh's criticism about the delay in the increase of petroleum prices, the prime minister said that he wanted to carry the polity with him and get full consensus. He then wondered why Dr Singh himself had failed to take a decision when he was the finance minister.

UNI