Want to be reborn as a Vietnamese, George Fernandes once said
Hyderabad, Jan 29 : "If there is a rebirth, I would like to be reborn as a Vietnamese," George Fernandes had once said.
Addressing the annual conference of Karnataka Planters' Association fifteen years ago in Bengaluru when he was the defence minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cabinet, Fernandes described the Vietnamese as "a disciplined, committed and determined lot".
Observing that Vietnam had a large share of the world coffee market, he said, "I am not grudging that; I am an admirer of Vietnam" and heaped praise on the Southeast Asian country and its people for their rapid progress.
"If there is a rebirth, I would like to be reborn as a Vietnamese", Fernandes, who was born in Manguluru, said. "They are ready to die for their commitment."
Fernandes had said he was India's first defence minister to have visited Vietnam. He noted that three million Vietnamese had been killed in conflicts with the US, France and China.
According to him, the country was leaving India behind in per capita income.
"After all the devastation that Vietnam had to go through... none that we (India) had to go through in recent years," the veteran socialist said.
He cited Vietnam as an example as to how a country can be determined and innovative and think 100 years ahead.
Fernandes passed away Tuesday after a prolonged illness.
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MP: 12 labourers killed, 20 injured as pick-up van overturns and crashes into SUV
Dhar (MP) (PTI): Twelve labourers were killed and 20 others injured when the pick-up van carrying them overturned and collided with an SUV in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday night, an official said.
The incident occurred at 8:30-9 PM. According to preliminary information, 35 labourers were returning home in a pickup van from Baggad in Dhar district when the driver lost control of the vehicle near Chikliya crossing. The vehicle overturned and collided with an SUV coming from the opposite direction.
"Twelve people died on the spot, while approximately 20 others were injured," said Dhar district's in-charge collector, Abhishek Choudhary.
The seriously injured persons were referred to Indore after initial treatment, he said.
Choudhary, DIG Mayank Awasthi, and police personnel rushed to the spot.
Tirla police have registered a case and are investigating the accident.
