A great many media outlets have been highlighting the recent decision of the British government in reconsidering it's position vis a vis Narendra Modi, the reigning Chief Minister in Gujrat for more than a decade. View the recent write up in the Economist or this one at IAT .
The facts why this development is being viewed as an extremely significant move has multiple reasons -
It is against this backdrop that Narendra Modi's supposed rehabilitation by western governments, against a backdrop of alleged human rights violations in 2002, becomes all the more poignant. This after vilifying Modi personally as well as his administration for almost a decade. Western governments including the US have revoked his privilege to enter their countries by denying him entry visas, as a means to bully him. They have knowingly and / or unknowingly become pawns of the Congress led UPA combine in India to declare him persona-non-grata against popular and overwhelming support of him across the world.
Regardless of the political party in power in the US - President / Senate / House, the basic tenets of US foreign policy are unwavering. Unless the US is looking to dump the Gandhi family led Congress-UPA-? combine the status quo will not change. The Jasmine Revolution which was the precursor to the Arab spring has brought more than anticipated and acceptable anarchy to the MENA region. Europe and US will not allow that to happen again especially in India which is geo-politically and economically more than a keystone in the global context now.
Let's not get myopic and ignore reality from the historical past in the South-Asian region, before we start to gloat. In Pakistan Musharraf was dumped. Benazir Bhutto (the nurturer of the Taliban) was brought in, but then was assassinated and a puppet regime headed by her widower Asif Ali Zardari (who is the defacto leader of Bhutto's PPP) has been in place since.
Just because there is widespread unrest against the Gandhi clan and it's supporters right now doesn't mean that Narendra Modi is in the good books of the Western interests now. Don't forget the AB Vajpayee govt. was disposed of as soon as it asserted it's independence on various issues including nuclear proliferation. Even after the Arab Spring and the change at the top in Pakistan the behind the scene players remain the same in those places with continued support from Europe & US.
One more thing to always keep in mind US economic interests have never been sidelined despite whatever political ideology has been in place at the policy making level as long as American companies profit! The sad part is we equate popular sentiment to the official stance of overt and behind the scenes position US policy should reflect. This has never been the case. Cases in point American business interests and trade with Communist China, oil purchases from Venezuela, trade with Putin's Russia, aid to Pakistan etc. Or take the unwavering US support for Taiwan despite enormous risk in strategic and crucial bi-lateral relationships with China. There is already quite a bit trade of activity with Gujrat notwithstanding Narendra Modi. So dropping an unpopular public stance to placate a vast majority of Indian-Americans / Global-Indians is really not a big deal. I strongly believe that Narendra Modi does not need to be vetted by European or American policy makers.
Until individuals and organizations, both in India and abroad, can grasp the above sentiment and are able to put behind their petty personal grudges to unite and come together on a common platform to help the majority of Indian people they are merely pontificating in the air to bring about change... a la someone else we know from the recent and immediate past from the American political scene! ;-)
By the way here is a recent presentation of the socio-economic accomplishments of Narendra Modi and his administration over the years. GUJRAT PRESENTATION.
The facts why this development is being viewed as an extremely significant move has multiple reasons -
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| Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi |
- Narendra Modi is currently the longest serving Chief Minister, of ANY state in India, during the past 20years.
- Modi is also the longest serving Chief Minister of the State of Gujrat, having completed 11 years.
- Modi is also up for re-election next month.
- Modi is one of the most prominent figures from the single largest opposition party in India the BJP, as well as part of the alliance national opposition parties in the central government.
- Modi is quite often projected as a the future leader - Prime Minister of India.
- India is scheduled for national elections in the Spring of 2014, though the possibility of a mid-term election being forced on the people is looming large due to a very fragile and splintered UPA-2 Alliance.
The Indian political scene is currently in a state of turmoil on the national level with key individuals from the ruling Gandhi clan led Congress-UPA-??? combine being accused, investigated, and indicted for billions of dollars worth of corruption and fraud of taxpayer money and even foreign aid involving arms deals, allocation of natural resources, real estate development deals, telecommunication licenses, financial sector irregularity, tax evasion, etc. You name it and there is documented evidence of widespread corruption and bribery anywhere and everywhere you look!
It is against this backdrop that Narendra Modi's supposed rehabilitation by western governments, against a backdrop of alleged human rights violations in 2002, becomes all the more poignant. This after vilifying Modi personally as well as his administration for almost a decade. Western governments including the US have revoked his privilege to enter their countries by denying him entry visas, as a means to bully him. They have knowingly and / or unknowingly become pawns of the Congress led UPA combine in India to declare him persona-non-grata against popular and overwhelming support of him across the world.
Anyway, the announcement by the British Foreign Office and a leak from a senior high ranking US diplomat to review their governments status about their one sided and contentious relationship with Narendra Modi, his administration, as well as his political ideology has been welcomed by Indian-Americans, Global-Indians, and the Indian public. They are rejoicing at this opportunity as well as looking to celebrate "the victory" of Modi having prevailed after all these years.
However, in my opinion it is too premature to even think of celebrating, my reasons are listed as follows. My analysis is mainly US centric since that is where I am based, yet it clearly reflects the basic tenets of Western foreign policy vis a vis the rest of the world.
Regardless of the political party in power in the US - President / Senate / House, the basic tenets of US foreign policy are unwavering. Unless the US is looking to dump the Gandhi family led Congress-UPA-? combine the status quo will not change. The Jasmine Revolution which was the precursor to the Arab spring has brought more than anticipated and acceptable anarchy to the MENA region. Europe and US will not allow that to happen again especially in India which is geo-politically and economically more than a keystone in the global context now.
Let's not get myopic and ignore reality from the historical past in the South-Asian region, before we start to gloat. In Pakistan Musharraf was dumped. Benazir Bhutto (the nurturer of the Taliban) was brought in, but then was assassinated and a puppet regime headed by her widower Asif Ali Zardari (who is the defacto leader of Bhutto's PPP) has been in place since.
Just because there is widespread unrest against the Gandhi clan and it's supporters right now doesn't mean that Narendra Modi is in the good books of the Western interests now. Don't forget the AB Vajpayee govt. was disposed of as soon as it asserted it's independence on various issues including nuclear proliferation. Even after the Arab Spring and the change at the top in Pakistan the behind the scene players remain the same in those places with continued support from Europe & US.
One more thing to always keep in mind US economic interests have never been sidelined despite whatever political ideology has been in place at the policy making level as long as American companies profit! The sad part is we equate popular sentiment to the official stance of overt and behind the scenes position US policy should reflect. This has never been the case. Cases in point American business interests and trade with Communist China, oil purchases from Venezuela, trade with Putin's Russia, aid to Pakistan etc. Or take the unwavering US support for Taiwan despite enormous risk in strategic and crucial bi-lateral relationships with China. There is already quite a bit trade of activity with Gujrat notwithstanding Narendra Modi. So dropping an unpopular public stance to placate a vast majority of Indian-Americans / Global-Indians is really not a big deal. I strongly believe that Narendra Modi does not need to be vetted by European or American policy makers.
Let's keep our eye on the big picture! Indians deserve more importantly a reliable pan-India organization with integrity which needs to have the overwhelming trust of the Indian electorate. That will be the tipping point for global policy makers to align their interests with the Indian middle class instead of just viewing them as an economic and profit making opportunity!
Until individuals and organizations, both in India and abroad, can grasp the above sentiment and are able to put behind their petty personal grudges to unite and come together on a common platform to help the majority of Indian people they are merely pontificating in the air to bring about change... a la someone else we know from the recent and immediate past from the American political scene! ;-)
By the way here is a recent presentation of the socio-economic accomplishments of Narendra Modi and his administration over the years. GUJRAT PRESENTATION.
