Web Chat: 'World Non-Violence Day, insult on Gandhi'

HARD TALK: Dr Vidya Shankar Aiyar is CNN-IBN's Senior Editor-Anchor.

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UN has declared October 2 as World Non-Violence Day. Speaking at the UN on this occasion, both Sonia Gandhi and Pranab Mukherjee preached 'non-violence' to the world community. Yet India keeps mum on the situation Myanmar. Why Delhi doesn't have the courage when it comes to Myanmar? In a live chat on IBNLive.com, CNN-IBN's Senior Editor-Anchor Dr Vidya Shankar Aiyar exchanged his views on the issue.

Here is the full transcript of the chat without any editorial touch:

Astroshiva: India and Myanmar share a long history of cultural and geographical co-existence. I want to know why didn't our external affairs ministry bother to oppose the brutality of the military govt. there?

Dr Vidya Shankar Aiyar: That's what we all want to know as well. My guess is we are too scared to upset the good economic relations. And we are still stuck in the old paradox... choosing between the practical and the moral. We haven't evolved to the stage of doing both the practical and the moral.

srinivasa.c: I am curious to know why India is silent on Myanmar.

Dr Vidya Shankar Aiyar: We all are... Except for some wishy-washy comments from Pranab Mukherjee that are worded carefully so as not to upset Sr Gen Than Shwe and his administration.

sharath Chandar: What does US. A states on the South American countries to be under dictatorship like Nicaruga and other small countries "It states at US Interest" .It is because of our national interest only the Government mute on the Myanmar.

Dr Vidya Shankar Aiyar:Sure... but then why go to the UN and talk about how we must all have courage to follow the path of non-violence? Why heap such an insult on Gandhi, that too on his birth anniversary if we are not going to follow his principles anyway? Also, it is debatable if national interest in the long term is served by following expedient policies... Don't you think?

prakash sharma: Is India afraid of China.

Dr Vidya Shankar Aiyar: Shhhhh... Don't say that too loudly.. :) No, seriously, 'afraid' is not the word I would use. Let's just say, we have a healthy distrust.

Ben: Are we losing the grip over our neighbours, first it was with Nepal, when the Indian government tight-lipped during the political turmoil in the recent past? now it's with Myanmar. Is the government worried that it would not be heard properly by the junta in Myanmar?

Dr Vidya Shankar Aiyar: Good question... You know.. ironically... the foreign minister was spelling out how India's neighbourhood is full of trouble with states transiting to democracy... The problem... as you state it could be the opposite... Is India losing its grip over its neighbours? We are certainly not visibly influencing anything in any of our neighbouring states. With regard to Myanmar, I think we just don't know how to do this...

Archana: Who cares about Myanmar?

Dr Vidya Shankar Aiyar: Good question... then why participate in this discussion? I am presuming there is some interest at least at the human level about the recent crackdown on monks. Is so... it's a human story. Myanmar is also a close neighbour. We can ill afford to ignore what happens in that country...

Rajesh: Sir, if I can chip in with my own observation... India has a lot at stake in Myanmar. First and foremost, the huge gas field that Myanmar has put on offer to the world. ONGC, Essar, Gail -- all top Indian companies have up to 20% stake in the Swu gas field -- the biggest in Myanmar. Mind you: India lost the bigger pie when Myanmar walked out of the gas pipeline project. They are giving the same to China now. Delhi can't afford to lose any more clout in the neighbourhood. Then India has almost got the Myanmarese junta to toe its line on the Northeast militancy.

Dr Vidya Shankar Aiyar: Precisely... the truth is... the Chinese are way ahead of us in this business. We will not be able to catch up. Imagine... for the UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari to even enter the country and visit both Than Shwe and Aung San Suu Kyii the Chinese had to intervene!! The point however, is not jeopardise our economic interest. The point is... if we do have aspirations of a great power.. then we should know how to behave like one: take the right stand AND keep our economic interests. Our economic interests are with the state, not with one administration. Is that right?

Vinodh:Is India following a pragmatic foreign policy?

Dr Vidya Shankar Aiyar: That's the debate, is it pragmatic, is it even a 'policy'?