There Was a Time When Nehru Said `India Second, China First': Jaishankar

Jaishankar added that the past mistakes of the former-PM led to problems including Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) and occupation of some parts of the Indian territory by China.

While speaking at the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ahmedabad, Jaishankar said, "In 1950, (then home minister) Sardar Patel had warned the then PM Nehru about China. Patel had told Nehru that today for the first time we are facing a situation on two fronts (Pakistan and China) which India had never faced earlier. Patel also told Nehru that he does not believe what the Chinese are saying as their intentions seem different and we should take precautions."

"Nehru's stand was completely dissenting. He replied to Patel that you are unnecessarily suspicious of the Chinese... Also, it is impossible for anybody to attack us across the Himalayas... A few years later there was a debate about the UN, should India be given a UN seat at that time? So Nehru's position at that time was he said, we deserve a seat, but first we must ensure China gets a seat. So today we are talking of India first. There was a time when the PM of India talked about China first," he further said.