The Hindu : India better placed to face war: Sinha

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 28, 2002

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India better placed to face war: Sinha

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MAY 27 .The Union Finance Minister, Yashwant Sinha, today said that a war with Pakistan was the last option, but in case it took place, India was better placed than that country to face it.

``War is the last option. If there is no option left, we have to prepare the nation for it. Considering the economic situation at present, we are much more prepared than our neighbouring country,'' the Finance Minister told presspersons in an informal interaction when asked about India's economic preparedness in the event of a war.

``We have to see it from a comparative angle, what is our strength, what is our enemy's strength. Whom are we going to fight with. With whom is there a possibility of a war. If you see it from that angle, I would like to say, we are over 100 times more capable than Pakistan,'' he added. Asked about a possible impact on the economy, Mr. Sinha said, ``whatever is the situation, either inside the country or outside, it is not favourable to the economy. If there is a fight, there is bound to be some difficulty.''

The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Bimal Jalan, who met the Finance Minister today, said he was not sure whether the war-fear would affect the economy. ``I don't know. Let's watch,'' he said.

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