The present UPA government was the first government after Rajiv Gandhi to be blessed with such a popular mandate. The after-election response was that it was a golden opportunity to perform without the pressure of appeasing any allies. But the second innings of the UPA government is turning out to be nothing short of a disaster. Talking about foreign policy, the government is turning out to be a dud. Indians had attached high expectations from this government. And rightly so. The mandate ensured that the government was free from the push and pulls of coalition dharma. And with the policy of granting ministries on the basis of qualification and bringing in foreign policy veterans such as Shashi Tharoor, the expectations weren’t unjustified. But the government hasn’t been able to live up to the expectations attached to it. Instead it has meekly surrendered in front of China and USA.
China has upped the ante with constant interference in the matters of the government of India and Arunachal Pradesh. But instead of coming out with a strong response, we get to hear the age-old “strong condemnation” of China’s statement and the regular “Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India”. I have already started yawning considering the number of times I have heard this repetitive response. Shouldn’t we go on the offensive and attack china on its human rights record in Tibet or ask them to move out of the territory occupied by them in Tibet. Instead we think twice before permitting Dalai Lama to visit Arunachal Pradesh lest it hurts the sentiments of China. The response by the government asking China to stop its activities in PoK was in the right direction and it should continue on this path whenever there is any sort of interference from China. Why do we need to meekly surrender in front of the world’s superpowers or the budding superpowers? I might be accused of jingoism. But I don’t believe in the Gandhian philosophy of offering your other cheek when someone slaps you on the first. Instead, I believe we should return the favour by hitting them where it hurts most.
Contrast that to the BJP government which went ahead with the nuclear tests even after being aware of the impending sanctions on the international front. The BJP government not only carried out the tests but also deftly managed to strengthen relations with the major international players. Relations with USA reached a new height and the foundation for 123 Nuclear Agreement was set up. That sharp acumen and political manoeuvering seems to lack in the present dispension. Long way to go for Mr. S. M. Krishna and his high profile MoS Mr. Shashi Tharoor considering the standards that have been set in the foreign policy segment by his predecessors in the BJP government.
China has upped the ante with constant interference in the matters of the government of India and Arunachal Pradesh. But instead of coming out with a strong response, we get to hear the age-old “strong condemnation” of China’s statement and the regular “Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India”. I have already started yawning considering the number of times I have heard this repetitive response. Shouldn’t we go on the offensive and attack china on its human rights record in Tibet or ask them to move out of the territory occupied by them in Tibet. Instead we think twice before permitting Dalai Lama to visit Arunachal Pradesh lest it hurts the sentiments of China. The response by the government asking China to stop its activities in PoK was in the right direction and it should continue on this path whenever there is any sort of interference from China. Why do we need to meekly surrender in front of the world’s superpowers or the budding superpowers? I might be accused of jingoism. But I don’t believe in the Gandhian philosophy of offering your other cheek when someone slaps you on the first. Instead, I believe we should return the favour by hitting them where it hurts most.
Contrast that to the BJP government which went ahead with the nuclear tests even after being aware of the impending sanctions on the international front. The BJP government not only carried out the tests but also deftly managed to strengthen relations with the major international players. Relations with USA reached a new height and the foundation for 123 Nuclear Agreement was set up. That sharp acumen and political manoeuvering seems to lack in the present dispension. Long way to go for Mr. S. M. Krishna and his high profile MoS Mr. Shashi Tharoor considering the standards that have been set in the foreign policy segment by his predecessors in the BJP government.
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