By S. Sivathasan –
S. Sivathasan
Time for Change, Time for Modi. So says the cover page of the 42 page Manifesto quite assertively.
Foreign Relations – Nation First
“BJP believes a resurgent India must get its rightful place in the comity of nations and international Institutions. The vision is to fundamentally reboot and reorient the foreign policy goals, content and process, in a manner that locates India’s global strategic engagement in a new paradigm and on a wider canvass, that is not just limited to political diplomacy, but also includes our economic, scientific, cultural, political and security interests, both regional and global, on the principles of equality and mutuality, so that it leads to an economically stronger India, and its voice is heard in the international fora.”
Ominous Stance
“In our neighbourhood we will pursue friendly relations. However, where required we will not hesitate from taking strong stand and steps.” – Emphasis added.
This declaration denotes a drastic departure from “Decision and Policy Paralysis”, a feature of successive Congress administrations which had taken a proud nation to levels of degeneracy. A predicament in which the nation was smarting and chafing. A position which the BJP was determined to change and the authority for which is coming the way of the Party now. Even as the Party is on the verge of capturing power and has moved on to the threshold of getting an absolute majority, it declares its policy in no unambiguous terms.
The words look ominous for neighbours seen as errant or recalcitrant or working for purposes perceived by India to be inimical to her interests. No longer will a great power take kindly to being assailed by any of the smaller states acting on the strength of super power support erroneously misplaced. This is the message. The declaration is unmistakably with reference to the South Asian region. A theatre destined to see a decisive determination to secure India’s sphere of influence. Soft Power potential appears to be the resource to be tapped first.
More Excerpts
“BJP believes that political stability, progress and peace in the region are essential for south Asia’s growth and development. The Congress-led UPA has failed to establish enduring friendly and cooperative relations with India’s neighbours. India’s relations with traditional allies have turned cold. India and its neighbours have drifted apart. Instead of clarity, we have seen confusion. The absence of statecraft has never been felt so acutely as today. India is seen to be floundering, whereas it should have been engaging with the world with confidence. The collapse of the Indian economy has contributed to the sorry state of foreign affairs in no small measure.
“We will build a strong, self-reliant and self-confident India, regaining its rightful place in the comity of nations. In this, we will be firstly guided by our centuries old traditions. At the same time, our foreign policy will be based on best National interests. We will create a web of allies to mutually further our interests. We will leverage all our resources and people to play a greater role on the international high table.
“India has long failed to duly appreciate the full extent and gamut of its soft power potential. There is a need to integrate our soft power avenues into our external interchange, particularly, harnessing and focusing on the spiritual, cultural and philosophical dimensions of it…..This continues to be equally relevant to the world today in today’s times of Soft power. We will adopt Proactive Diplomacy to spread the same. India was reckoned not only as Vishwaguru but also a vibrant trading society. Guiding Principles of our Foreign Policy will be among others:
Equations will be mended through pragmatism and a doctrine of mutually beneficial and interlocking relationships, based on enlightened national interest.
Instead of being led by big power interests, we will engage proactively on our own with countries in the neighbourhood and beyond.”
Conclusion
‘We aim to build a modern, prosperous and vibrant India Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat based on our ethos and values. We have to convert ourselves into a knowledge based society and economy, powered by experience, tools of technology and energy of our people. BJP commits itself to this task and promises to work relentlessly towards this goal, for which we are seeking sixty months”.
A clear enunciation of what India is about. A reversal of Congress policies and inaction which are seen as having impaired the image of India. A pronouncement that is sure to touch the imagination of all Indians. The positive impact of the Manifesto brought out on April 7th, on voting will be visible in two weeks.
Nathan / April 9, 2014
To the utter discomfort of India, the Congress has bungled Indian Foreign Policy (FP).
the BJP Manifesto reads, FP should not be just limited to diplomacy, but should also include economic, scientific, cultural, political and security interests.
BJP will have to bear in mind the rupture and damage the Congress bungling has caused to the status of India as the Regional power.
Until BJP gets the chance to open the FP cupboard, BJP will not know the enormity of the task
One thing is for sure. There are more trouble makers in the Region today, than in the past.
Any attempt to unwind the mess in a hurry will make it messier for BJP and for India.
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Native Vedda / April 9, 2014
Nathan
“Until BJP gets the chance to open the FP cupboard, BJP will not know the enormity of the task”
Neither BJP nor Congress will be allowed to open foreign policy cupboard as one may find embarrassing number of skeletons in it. Therefore South Block Chanakya’s would limit BJP’s access to policy on a “need to know basis”.
Within a few months of taking control of Delhi Dharbar they would be “House Trained” or go “native”. Political masters will have to follow South Block’s policy prescription.
Don’t expect miracle’s as the Chanakyas prefer stability to exploring possibility of policy changes. Their British trained minds cannot coop with innovative foreign policies.
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Javi / April 11, 2014
Nathan,
India has a sordid history of electing thugs and crooks. In 2009 alone, over 129 of the elected people had criminal records, several with murder convictions. Among those running for office, Congress–114 with criminal records, BJP–113, BSP-105 and so on. So talking about law and democracy is an exercise in futility. ●～* ●～*
Rape and Graft Ideology of Indian politicians.
April 11, 2014: Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh, on Thursday, described rapes as “mistakes” committed by boys, leading to outrage among, and strong condemnation by, political parties, women’s groups and the National Commission for Women.●～*
███████ █████████████ █████ cover the face slam the base;hindian
“”A good wife is one who serves her husband in the morning like a mother does, loves him in the day like a sister does and pleases him like a prostitute in the night… …and `a person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are screwed first.`
— Chanakya ｡◕‿◕｡
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Javi / April 9, 2014
” so that it leads to an economically stronger India,”
Inevitably the buyer has to be the west but no one else.
so just today the high rich and mighty chinese did exactly that.
US Hagel: It’s of a bit of surprise that China is allowing the US delegation aboard its first aircraft carrier. What is China’s thinking behind this unusual openness?
Pakistan has just commenced naval exercises with Iran.
India also has one reconditioned both got it from Ukraine.
When Kissinger said stop or we will nuke you Indira withdrew.
When would Putin with the fastest launching pad nuke is the question and SL is being trained by US.
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Reader / April 9, 2014
Mr. Sivathasan
The Sri Lankan Tamils today have a strategic ally in the west. This explains the developments at the UNHCHR.
Modi has been silent on the Sri Lankan issue with the exception on the rights of Indian fishermen. There is a reason for it.
The Tamil Nadu Brahmin lobby is anti-Sri Lankan Tamil. The Hindutva and secular Marxist ideologies that they have helped influence recently now reflect this bias.
Look at “Hindutva” ideologues like Subrahmanyam Swamy, Radha Rajan and Cho Ramaswamy. I also refer to “Marxists” like N. Ram, Mani Shanker Iyer and even Siddhart Varadarajan. Then there are “secular” journalists like Malini Parthasarathy, Suhashini Haider (Swamy’s daughter married to a Muslim incidentally) and Meera Sreenivasan. It is ideologues like that who have influenced those around Narendra Modi.
Meanwhile, the regime in Colombo has used the good officers of these ideologes and other anti Sri Lankan Tamil journalists in India such as Sandhya Jain and others in websites such as Niti Central to lobby Modi’s inner circle.
Sri Lankan Tamil activists need to be aware of these dynamics and act accordingly. Modi himself reportedly wanted to visit Jaffna in 2002. That earlier predisposition of his needs to be revived.
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Dr Dayan Jayatilleka / April 9, 2014
Congratulations to the writer on a valuable and useful analysis.
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