China less aggressive than Pakistan: MoS Defence

Newly-appointed Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik said on Sunday that China’s aggression is of a lesser degree compared to that of Pakistan.

Asked which of India’s hostile neighbours was a threat, Naik said: “Both of them. The Chinese aggression is in a lesser degree. But Pakistan and other various terrorist groups are being tackled by the government.”

“Government has started a strategy to tackle infiltration, especially in regions like Kashmir. Government wants infiltration to stop and eliminate divisive forces in the country,” he said.

Naik said that Modi had prioritised finding of solutions to curb “increasing terrorism and infiltration,” and he further thanked the Prime Minister for his appointment.

The five-time North Goa BJP member of parliament Shripad Naik, was sworn in as Union minister of state (independent charge) in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government on May 30, 2019.

Naik said he was thankful to the Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah for giving him this responsibility and opportunity to serve the people of India and Goa. “I will try to do justice to the people of India and Goa,” after his swearing-in ceremony.

Naik has represented North Goa since first getting elected in 1999. Naik first became Union minister for state in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led coalition government and held various portfolios, from finance to civil aviation. In 2014, he was made minister for state with independent charge.

He had defeated Congress candidate Girish Chodankar by over 80,000 votes in the general elections held on April 23.