Economy Education Hindus Leadership Policy

Wins Hearts, Pitches for Prosperity in Kashmir

Kashmir people resoundingly dismissed notions of a divided stance; unequivocal support for Modi’s vision of a ‘Naya Kashmir’. Rahul Pawa During his maiden visit to Srinagar after having ended an era of discrimination by landmark amendment of Article 370, Prime Minister Narendra Modi encountered a reception that left critics and skeptics astounded. Anticipation for his visit had been building for several days with throngs of Kashmiris flocking to Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Driven by a desire to glimpse Modi, a leader whose popularity has surged across what was once known as a turbulent state. This fervent public display signifies a pivotal shift in socio-political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir. It marks beginning of a period that could redefine its history ushering in significant changes and reimagining Jammu and Kashmir’s future. This visit not only punctuates Modi’s magnetic appeal with people of Jammu and Kashmir but also signals potential evolution of a territory poised to embark on path to peace and prosperity. At today’s ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir’ programme in Srinagar, people of Kashmir resoundingly dismissed any notion of a divided stance on Jammu and Kashmir sending a clear message to global community their unequivocal support for Modi’s vision of a ‘Naya Kashmir.’ In the event at Srinagar’s Bakshi Stadium, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha extended warm welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was cheered by thousands of followers and supporters joining online from all districts of Union Territory and around the world. Modi, engaging in dialogue with Viksit Bharat beneficiaries from several J&K districts including Shopian, Jammu, Kupwara, Srinagar, Ganderbal, Bandipura, Kathua, and Kishtwar, showcased inclusive reach of the initiative. Amid scenic backdrop of Bakshi Stadium, Modi then unveiled an ambitious slate of 53 projects, cumulatively valued at Rs 64 billion. These ventures go beyond just infrastructure projects; they are beacons of hope and engines of progress for Jammu and Kashmir. PM emphasised the transformative impact these projects are poised to have on the UT’s development trajectory. Modi’s visit was not only about projects, it was genuine urge to outreach to Kashmiris whom he addressed as his parivar or larger family. Echoing sentiments of Syama Prasad Mukherjee whose sacrifices laid the groundwork for this new vision of Jammu and Kashmir, Modi reiterated the symbiotic relationship between development in the valley and broader pillar of India’s progress. Modi also empathized on evolving travel trade making Srinagar, as a focal point in India’s burgeoning tourism industry pivotal to Bharat’s development story by launching ‘Dekho Apna Desh People’s Choice Tourist Destination Poll’ and ‘Chalo India Global Diaspora’ campaign. Reflecting on his visits post-2014, Modi shared, “Whenever I came here after 2014, I have always said that I am making all these efforts to win your hearts and I am seeing that I have been able to win your hearts. I will keep trying hard. This is Modi’s guarantee…” It was a moment of reassurance, emphasise his commitment to winning over people of Jammu and Kashmir through sincere efforts and dedication. Prime Minister Narendra Modi didn’t shy away from addressing the political landscape taking aim at Congress party and its allies, along with regional opposition parties for misleading people regarding Article 370. Striking a stern note, Modi highlighted how Article 370 had disproportionately benefited certain families in the Valley challenging the earlier prevailing narratives surrounding its amendment. Furthermore, PM announced the Valmiki community now qualifies for Scheduled Caste (SC) benefits with the Vidhan Sabha reserving seats specifically for SCs. Additionally, the Pattari tribes, Pahadi groups, Gadda Brahmin and Koli communities have been newly included in the ST list. Modi turned the spotlight on tangible progress emphasizing historic milestone of railways reaching the Kashmir Valley. This infrastructure development is not just about laying tracks; it symbolizes connectivity, economic growth and prosperity for the region. In a moment of optimism, Modi expressed his unwavering faith in the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. Their potential, he asserted, is the bedrock upon which the future prosperity and vitality of the region will be built. In a striking demonstration of political acumen and visionary leadership, PM Modi’s first visit to Srinagar has marked a turning point for J&K, signaling radical departure from its tumultuous past. The overwhelming reception that he got reflects a watershed moment in the region’s history, illuminating a collective desire among the people of J&K to embark on a journey of peace, prosperity and closer integration with the country’s developmental story. Modi’s initiatives, skillfully intertwining development agenda with efforts to connect on a personal level, have laid the foundation for a comprehensive socio-economic revival. Modi’s ability to draw unprecedented crowds in a region once beset by strife speaks volumes about his popularity and the shifting sentiments among its people. By directly addressing longstanding grievances and proposing a vision of progress and inclusivity, Modi has not only reinforced his political dominance but charted a bold path towards the realisation of a ‘Naya Kashmir’. This journey, underpinned by aspirations for stability and growth, could redefine the future of Jammu and Kashmir, setting a precedent for inclusive and development-driven governance. (Author is Research Director at New Delhi based non-partisan think tank, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Sudies)

Geopolitics Hindus Human Rights Leadership World

1.01K

Beyond Brick and Mortar!

Opening of magnificent Hindu mandir in Abu Dhabi mark tectonic shift in India – UAE friendship that’s transcended commercial, diplomatic & strategic issues BAPS Hindu Mandir that rose majestically in Abu Dhabi is a symbol of Middle Eastern tolerance of different faiths and cross-cultural mosaic. This architectural wonder represents harmony and understanding across cultures and is much more than just a place of worship. When Pramukh Swami Maharaj visited United Arab Emirates in 1997, he floated the idea of building a temple in Abu Dhabi that would unite two “countries, closer together by cultures, and religions.” This is how journey to the temple began. In August 2015, UAE government declared that land for a Hindu temple (mandir) would be provided in Abu Dhabi. The land was gifted for mandir (temple) by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan who was then crown prince of Abu Dhabi & Deputy Supreme commander of UAE Armed force.

Education Geopolitics Leadership Media Policy Security Technology

913

Unique Art & Science That Awes!

Gone are the days of coalition politics where regional parties held the sway that led to protracted policy paralysis? It’s Prime Minister Modi’s leadership that stands out post-2014 Amritpal Kaur/New Delhi Prior to 2014, modus vivendi of Indian electoral politics centred in multiparty coalitions. No single party with all India presence had won a clear majority since 1989. There seemed to be a tacit agreement among political parties on respective regional and national electoral sphere with clear vote-banks and core cadre. India was said to be living in an era of ‘coalition politics’ with sway of regional parties to become ‘kingmakers’ in the national politics. On the one hand this led to increase in regional voices at national level and on the other, it led to what was touted as policy paralysis as then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had to become a prisoner to coalition dharma. The chaos that coalition politics created for governance and central administration was acutely visible at policy implementation level. A number of promising policies were held hostage at the hands of regional political leadership which lacked specialization and orientation to fathom national interests beyond petty political gains. This intransigence turned into a nightmare as national parties failed to bring forth accepted leaders in whom people across regions could reposit their faith. This tricky transient situation changed with 2014 general elections. Prime Minister Modi rose on the national horizon with a clear mandate and secured comfortable majority, a feat that had almost became subject matter of electoral lore of a bygone era. This feat was achieved mainly due to a fundamental difference between Prime Minister Modi and his competitors i.e. the conviction and perception of Modi in the minds of people. He has successfully put forth the image of an efficient and honest administrator and a reformer with the concern for public at heart. What is refreshing about Prime Minister Modi is the fact that he exuberate confidence and reinstates it in general masses about India’s future. At policy level, a few commentators put Modi’s politics to the left of right wing on political spectrum. This was reached derived due to his unequivocal clarity on policy reforms. After all being said and done, what matters is development and reforms done on the ground that directly impacts people’s lives and is not just ‘business as usual’. Prime Minister Modi has been able to achieve it. What has helped him is the clear majority in both houses of Parliament. Pressure of ‘coalition dharma’ is not on his shoulders and it has allowed him to streamline governance, its aims and goals far more clearly. This phenomenon coupled with his track record as an administrator has enabled Prime Minister Modi to build his own political capital which has stood in good stead for him in consecutive general elections. There is no pied piper effect here but a genuine belief of majority Indians that given the variety of leaders in the present generation Prime Minister Modi is primus inter pares. The faith reposited in the present government is unprecedented, probably to be matched only by the premiership of Pt. Nehru or Smt Indira Gandhi. However, the crucial difference between Nehru and Modi is that Nehru rode on latent political capital of Indian National Congress that came fresh out of British colonial rule. On the contrary, Modi had generated his political capital in part from his days as a ground level political activist and three-term tenure as chief Minister of Gujarat and partly on the account of the severe anti-incumbency effect for the previous regime. Last ten years have been watershed era for Indian administration as much as Indian politics that revolves around regional parties and national coalitions. The Government under Prime Minister Modi has brought in a number of long-pending reforms in different facets of Indian political economy with far reaching impact. Goods and Services tax (GST) is a good example of success of Prime Minister Modi’s regime. Though the work for the unified and harmonized pan Indian tax system was in the pipeline for over two decades, yet this revolutionary tax regime could not see light of the day simply because there was no clear majority for any one party or likeminded parties in the Centre. From modified value added tax to GST has been a long and arduous journey because it directly addressed the issue of fiscal federalism, the Centre and the states needed to work in tandem. The GST also entailed a complex interplay of rules at various levels of governance, which in a frank assessment was a Himalayan task for any government in best of the circumstances. That central government under Prime Minister Modi was able to achieve it, speaks volumes about its acumen to overcome policy paralysis, a quality essential to ensure overall development of the country. It is said that proof of the pudding is in eating and in many ways Indian economy is reaping benefits of the GST system. As the latest data shows, in December 2023, GST collection rose year-on-year by 12 per cent with record monthly collection of Rs 1.66 Lakh crore. Initial modest projection of achieving Rs 100,000 crore monthly was surpassed big time. The data makes a couple of irrefutable claims. One, the initial hiccups in indirect taxes system in India is now over and we are looking at a well-oiled machine. Secondly, the country realized one nation one tax system. The unified economic structure will enable Indian economy to escape the systemic velocity of a diffused and myriad tax structure. Another outstanding feature of Indian economic reforms in last decade is introduction of JAM trinity which became the conduit of digitization of Indian economy. In six years, JAM trinity which includes Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhar Card and Mobile phone has changed the contours of India’s retail economy in the context of money transactions. The feats that it achieved includes financial inclusion of various segments of population especially women who hold 260 million accounts under Jan Dhan Yojana

Economy Geopolitics Policy Security

1.07K

Indian elephant outpaces Chinese Dragon

Beijing’s ambivalence came to fore at BRICS and engagement with New Delhi while India showed promise, responsibility and capacity to lead Rahul Pawa In this reshaping of the BRICS landscape, India has assertively stamped its diplomatic and strategic acumen under Prime Minister Modi, outpacing the Chinese dragon with the calculated grace of an elephant—focused, powerful, and increasingly influential. In the years since its inception over a decade ago, BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — has matured as an influential conglomeration for majority world. Engaging in dynamic interactions with the developed world, this ensemble stands on the cusp of potentially challenging G7’s dominance in global affairs. Yet, the trajectory it charts—be it one of constructive collaboration or divisive contention—will hinge heavily on the vision the forum holds. As Asian heavyweights, India and China have to jostle to sway BRICS their way as their strategic contest will shape 21st-century geopolitics. BRIC birthed on sidelines of the 2006 UN General Assembly as a grouping of large developing countries. Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neill has been credited for evolving the acronym in 2001 that captures zeitgeist of an era smitten with emerging markets. Those days, Brazil, Russia, India, and China were seen as newest frontiers of investment. By 2011, with South Africa coming on board, the acronym matured to BRICS. Today, the group no longer represents mere buoyant markets. It symbolises a collective intent to recalibrate the equitable global order historically skewed towards Western hegemony. Yet, for all its promise, BRICS stands at an inflection point. Skeptics question its cohesion, pointing to underlying rifts among member nations and ambiguity on its very purpose and membership. Yet, BRICS believes in the adage ‘strength in numbers’ as it quests towards a multipolar world order where developing countries have more influence, in line with their contributions to the global economy. Even as BRICS nations represent an overwhelming 41 per cent of world’s population, the bloc accounts for 31.5 per cent of global GDP, eclipsing the G7’s 30.4 per cent. It also commands a combined economic output valued at an astonishing $ 26 trillion, around 60 per cent of what the seven most industrialized nations generate. The staggering figures notwithstanding, a glaring inconsistency exists: the bloc’s modest voting power in the International Monetary Fund and limited decision-making in World Bank. It does not commensurate with the global influence BRICS commandes. Such disjunction magnifies a substantial source of apprehension among developing nations that have for long been seeking corrective measures to democratize these international financial and governing institutions. More than 40 heads of state gathered for the Johannesburg summit and the event marked a significant pivot in global affairs. Hosted by South Africa, the year’s rotating president following China, the theme—”BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Accelerated Growth and Inclusive Multilateralism”—spoke volumes. Notably, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed that the forum had drawn intense global interest, with numerous nations seeking membership. However, amidst this diplomatic panorama, the magnetism of two Juggernauts stood out: India’s Prime Minister Modi and China’s President Xi, whose talks generated media frenzy. Correspondingly, the two leaders did have an “informal conversation” at the leaders lounge in backdrop of a pending request from the Chinese side for a bilateral meeting with India. India – China relations are etched in history of mutual reservations. Recently, tensions flared anew between the two Asian giants in 2020 when China ramped up its aggression along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), a move met with formidable resistance by India. The saga of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) traversing through Pakistan occupied Indian regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and Jammu and Kashmir further complicates matters. These areas, occupied by Pakistan, are consistently contested by India as it persistently voices its objections on the International forums against the corridor. But Beijing’s ambitions don’t stop at terrestrial borders. It aims to shape the BRICS bloc – as a cornerstone of its own global strategy. From pushing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China seeks to recalibrate the world’s economic compass. On the contrary, steering clear of China’s political choreography, India zeroes in on bolstering regional economic collaborations and pushing for a recalibration of international monetary institutions to ensure the developing world isn’t left out. This nuanced strategy became increasingly transparent when India’s Foreign Minister, S. Jaishankar, dispelled notions of a nascent BRICS currency, electing instead to underline the importance of fortifying Indian Rupee in July this year. As BRICS itself stands at a crossroads and appears to positioned for a transformative global narrative, India navigates these waters with discerning caution. It remains vigilant to shifts that could potentially reconfigure this 16-year-old alliance in favour of a single, dominating power, effectively altering the multi-polar balance that has long characterised the consortium. As the gavel struck to signal close of the 15th BRICS Summit at Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre, a renewed world order seemed to crystallize before the global community. The seismic pivot came courtesy South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who announced the summit’s agreement to extend membership invitations to six emerging powers—Argentina, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. This dramatic enlargement, scheduled to take effect in January 2024, would make the bloc represent approximately 30 per cent of the global GDP, a financial heft rivaled by few. Amid this climate of heightened anticipation and future promise, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi emerged as the summit’s lodestar, charting the bloc’s course with a visionary range of proposals that struck a stark contrast to China’s mysterious reticence. Modi did not just navigate intricacies of the summit; he orchestrated them. India’s domestic and international roadmaps were laid out with compelling clarity. Whether articulating his ambitious aspiration for India to graduate to a developed nation by 2047 or laying bare his robust advocacy for key reforms in the United Nations Security Council and the World Trade Organization, Modi’s leadership radiated across multiple vectors. This was further illuminated by India’s pitch in the digital payments sphere, notably the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

Education Geopolitics Leadership Media Policy Security

968

A Resolute Goal

Reform, transform and perform is the mantra that will fuel India’s grand standing as a developed nation by 2047 Rohan Giri India’s Independence Day holds immense significance as it commemorates the nation’s liberation from British colonial rule while embodying its journey to realize 1.4 billion people’s dreams. Prime Minister Narendra Modi address on this special day unveiled a plan to put India on high growth trajectory. Modi painted a compelling portrait on India’s future drawing inspiration from her classical civilizational roots. He set a resolute goal for India to attain developed nation status by 2047. On 77-th Independence Day, Prime Minister began his address by referring to the turmoil and violence in Manipur and its impending resolution. He emphatically stated, “The country stands with the people of Manipur… Resolution is possible only through peace. The Centre and the state government are making all efforts to find a solution, and will continue to do so.” While the state was limping back to normalcy, a lot more needs to be done for making Manipur home to diverse tribes living in harmony moving away from conflict, violence, women’s abuse, pain and suffering of various tribes. Narendra Modi moved on to point the pivotal significance of undertaking economic reforms to fortify India’s global standing. As evident, India’s economy, valued at a staggering $3.5 trillion surpassed that of United Kingdom last year securing its place as fifth-largest in the world. With unwavering conviction, he declared India’s resolute trajectory to ascend into the elite club of top three global economies in next five years. Prime Minister heralded a noteworthy accomplishment – uplifting over 130 million individuals from strangle hold of poverty. He emphasized that India’s burgeoning prosperity serves as a compelling opportunity not only for the nation itself but for entire global community. Modi’s persistent emphasis on these aspects underscores his unequivocal dedication to harnessing India’s demographic dividend and steering it to transform into an economic powerhouse. India is swiftly advancing on development path, garnering significant global recognition for its burgeoning expansion. Modi as Prime Minister, it is both commendable and imperative to nurture aspirations for a resplendent future. Contemplating the trajectory of India’s future, Modi affirmed, “I am confident that in 2047 when India marks 100 years of its Independence, it will be a developed nation. I say this on the basis of the capability of my country and available resources…” Realizing the vision for a fully developed nation demands collective effort necessitating certain sacrifices from each citizen. Prime Minister emphasized, “We have to fight three things now — corruption, family rule, and appeasement. These create impediments to people’s aspirations while corruption has badly affected India’s capability. Modi has rightly targeted fighting against corruption as a key area. While politics of appeasement has inflicted most harm on social justice, the country has to resolve not to tolerate corruption in any form. Global arena not only acknowledges ingenuity of Indian leadership but recognizes strength of the country’s core philosophy. Rooted in India’s philosophical moorings, this perception of entire humanity as one family stands out differently. In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, India presented a resonant principle: “One earth, one health.” This principle acted as a beacon of hope for afflicted nations. In the aftermath of Covid-19 pandemic, the imperative for comprehensive healthcare has come to the forefront. This need has sparked a noticeable surge in the global embrace of traditional Indian healthcare practices such as indigenous medicine, yoga and meditation. Notably, yoga, an amalgamation of physical, mental, and spiritual practices rooted in ancient India has seamlessly woven itself into the daily routines of people across the globe. Moreover, India’s healthcare systems including Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homeopathy, progressively garnered global recognition. Presently India is leading the G-20 as the Chair and espoused a grand vision encapsulated by the mantra “One Earth, One Family, One Future.” This profound perspective serves as comprehensive remedy to current challenges like war in Ukraine and forms the bedrock for harmonious and prosperous global coexistence in times to come. The landscape of world order and geopolitics is undergoing swift transformations. New Delhi has engaged with the world powers in new ways by building alliances, strike trade deals and increases defence cooperation. On reshaping global order, Narendra Modi underscored, “In shaping a changing world, Indian people’s capabilities are evident… India’s biggest capability is trust — people’s trust in the government, the country’s bright future and the world’s trust in India. The ball is in our court, and we should not let go of opportunity; no ifs and buts on anyone’s mind about India’s capabilities.” Prime Minister’s 90-minute address also delved into subjects like democracy, women-driven progress and space technology to novel schemes and pressing concern of terrorism. His speech was a clarion call for people to embrace principles of Reform, Perform, and Transform. His vision for a reformed, efficient, and self-reliant India reflects well with aspirations of millions of Indians. As the country navigates its path to progress and prosperity, the roadmap in Modi’s speech provides a framework to guide India’s journey into the future. (Author is Operations Manager at Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies, a New Delhi based non-partisan think tank)

Business Economy Education Leadership Policy Security Technology World

972

Unleash India spirit!

Changing geo-political equations & global order has etched a key role for India as Vishwa Guru & Mitra, the most dependable ally K.A.Badarinath Prime Minister Narendra Modi put up a comprehensive socio-economic development plan before 1.4 billion Indians while delivering his tenth address from ramparts of iconic Red Fort. Given the grand plan that encapsulates his over 90-minutes address on Tuesday, political interpretations are bound to be made given that elections to four state legislatures followed by Lok Sabha polls were scheduled before June 2024. While the messenger in Modi arguably did a fantastic job of presenting broad contours of 25- year work plan, the leader in him hit the right note on three evils that the country faced. Presenting a case for ‘developed India’ by 2047, the year country celebrates her centennial post-independence from imperialistic British forces, Modi did not mince words. In the process, he has served an early notice to four large global economies that also consider themselves as invincible. A vision document being readied by ruling BJP and the central government would roll out specifics in this plan. This document has been in the works last one year when 75-years commemoration campaign was kicked off by Modi. Given that 2023 is first of 25-years ‘amrit kaal’, emphasis on grand ‘long viewfinder’ works well and timely. The resolve to build on substantive achievements last ten years got reflected amply on socio-economic front to upend India to third position as largest growing economy with a wide diverse market for goods and services. Fight against corruption, dynastic politics and appeasement line he pushed very hard is in continuation of BJP and NDA closing ranks to not cede even an inch of political space for 26-parties opposition. These three evils found mention prominently even in his reply to a no-confidence motion that was moved by some opposition parties earlier this month. Targeting a few families that run their political parties as personal fiefdoms or family enterprises, Prime Minister seems to have taken the fight across fence. Guarantees on political stability would be a big factor given resounding victory that Modi got in 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha. And, continuation of the ten-year work done is one clinching issue politically as well as on economic front. Political instability is one big risk that goes against the very grain of investments, buoyancy in markets and economic expansion. From the opposition perspective, political stability is one thing that cannot be taken for granted given inherent contradictions within fragile political formations that form part of anti-Modi rainbow network Recent successes for Congress in Karnataka and Aam Aadmi Party winning big in Punjab may have enthused opposition ranks leading to Patna and Bengaluru conclaves. But the socio-economic model of ‘freebies in Punjab and guarantees in Karnataka’ are unsustainable. Already, Karnataka has made more than clear that it would hardly be able to mobilize funds for even taking forward development projects erstwhile BJP government has begun. Internecine power struggle within the Congress and inter-party rivalry with the 26-party conglomeration is bound to take investors dizzy. Yet another commitment made by Narendra Modi was to guarantee against corruption that’s eating into vitals of the Indian polity. By and large, the ten year Modi rule at centre was corruption free notwithstanding charges of ‘suit boot sarkar’ made by Congress to pull down the BJP and tarnish with its own black brush. In states, public sector companies, banks and award of contracts, most players across spectrum have still been susceptible and amenable to personal gratification. Through the guarantee, Modi may have to extend his fight against corruption to states and then down below as districts administration continue to be marred by shady deals that need closer scrutiny. Trust in his leadership and BJP-led NDA model of governance is something that he has earned in last ten years. This trust needs to get extended downwards under his close watch to ensure that Hindu-centric voters will continue to be with Modi-led alliance. Mistrust with Congress regimes was what made ten years rule of Manmohan Singh unsustainable. Trust factor with the voters, partners, investors and all stakeholders in the next government may have to be worked on faster by Modi’s strategists. Narendra Modi seems to have banked heavily on spirit of India that has stood test of times. When he invoked ‘unstoppable’, tireless and does not give up’ spirit of hoi polloi, he made an instant ‘emotive connect’ with those tired of being ‘held up or pulled back’ in realizing their aspirations. BJP, NDA and Modi’s commitment to the concept of ‘vishwa guru’ or attaining numero uno status for India globally is fairly well established. Extending this further, Prime Minister Modi portrayed India as a ‘vishwa mitra’, a bankable friend, dependable partner and stakeholder in human development. His talk of a new ‘global order’ and ‘geo-political’ alignments is rather real given sea changes experienced in aftermath of cold war. Post-Covid 19, the much anticipated re-working of global order is expected to roll out in near future. And, this provides perfect opportunity for India to play a key responsible role internationally moving away from reticence of the past by ‘minding its own business’. This futuristic articulation to position India on global matrix both on geo-political issues and socio-economic plane would go well. (Author is Director& Chief Executive, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies, a non-partisan think tank based in New Delhi)

Leadership

901

‘Mother India’ Noise for Votes May Not Work

Congress will have to rejig its strategy to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. No confidence motion was lost opportunity for grand old party. K.A.Badarinath Who killed ‘Mother India? Was it the Narendra Modi government as alleged by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi or the grand old party that held the country’s reins for over five decades? Well the answer is quite obvious and straight. Feigning ignorance on ignominious and corrupt 50-odd years Congress rule post-independence may not help make out a case for the party with diminishing returns. A party that virtually turned ‘pigmy’ due to its own making and misrule has launched a desperate bid to resurrect itself in conjunction with 13-other splinter political groups run by ‘dynasties’ like the one that Rahul inherits. It was rather valiant for Rahul Gandhi to make a sweeping charge against Narendra Modi government holding it squarely responsible for turmoil in Manipur or communal flare up in Haryana. To deduce that Modi government was responsible for killing ‘Mother India’ or ‘Bharat Mata’ was chivalrous for a leader whose party oversaw the partition of India, conceded Aksai Chin to China and its leaders sought referendum on Kashmir like Brexit vote that was held in United Kingdom. Congress ecosystem seems to get a high by referring to ‘Bharat Mata’ or mother India often used by right wing forces with reference to this millennia old Hindu centric society that absorbed people from all faiths, modes of worship, denominations, religion. Reference to ‘Bharat Mata’ may be Congress way of staking claim on this very wholesome conceptualization of Hindus that the country and its people have a soul, spirit and distinct way of living. The claim also reflects the rudderless Congress political formation’s machinations to pursue a soft Hindutva line to negate the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) influence among vast Hindus that believe in cultural nationalism. Now that Congress has made its move,will majority Hindus buy Rahul Gandhi’s schizophrenia and vote for the party in legislative assembly elections in Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh followed by Lok Sabha polls in 2024? Alienation of majority Hindus due to unabated appeasement of Muslims and Christians is something Rahul Gandhi seems to be working on. Will this ploy work is something Congress strategists have to think? Weaning away nationalist ideological base and ardent Hindus from right wingers may not happen like heaping charges of corruption and corporate dealing on Modi government did not work. But, Rahul Gandhi seems to take on NDA, BJP and Narendra Modi on this plank. It may be a grave mistake that Rahul committed even before campaign for the 2024 elections began. Grand vision of ‘Bharat Mata’, ‘Virat Bharat’ or ‘Akhand Bharat’ of Hindus may be beyond comprehension of Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi who may be looking to poach into BJP-led alliance votes. A thriving society that’s unique in its way of life and spread virtually across South Asia with cultural ethos as one common thread may not be an easy fact to accept by left-leaning Congress that lost its moorings of pre-independence days and fell into the trap of sectarian politics of divisive variety. Rahul or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra showing up for ‘aarti’ at temples to garner a few votes cannot be Hindu way of life or what Hindus believe this country as a ‘living entity with spirit and soul’. Otherwise, Congress has till date not offered plausible explanation for its government’s decision to pull back the Indian Army in 1971 war after the forces had Pakistan territory till Lahore. Was it not that Congress then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi hailed as leader of 1971 war with iron fists, who did not pursue India’s West Pakistan agenda finalized in consultation with the Indian armed forces? Does Rahul Gandhi even have an inkling of how this played out? Did Rahul Gandhi suffer temporary memory lapse on how his own party government forgot Pakistan Occupied Jammu Kashmir and now his party people have the cheek to seek referendum on Article 370 of Indian Constitution? A part of this Indian Territory was usurped by China in a 1963 deal with Pakistan, but did Congress remember ‘Bharat Mata’ then? When Aksai Chin was occupied by China and Congress twiddled its thumb in New Delhi, can it now claim that ‘mother India’ was sliced into pieces in Manipur and elsewhere by Modi government? Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was given a free pass in 1950s and 1962 war to takeover Aksai Chin almost the size of Bhutan and was hitherto part of India’s Ladakh and never reflected in Chinese maps. Giving a staged outrageous twist to Manipur issue by claiming that the state has been divided will not work for Congress given that recent violence was handiwork of a combination of forces including the Church, drug mafia, insurgents from across Myanmar border apart from divisive tukde tukde gangs. Like corruption and corporate deals charges did not stick to BJP, separating ‘Bharat Mata’ from Hindutva forces may not happen in a jiffy. Rahul Gandhi has to think rejigging substantive Congress strategy to take on Modi, BJP that emerged as largest political party globally and NDA. (Author is Director & Chief Executive, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies, a non-partisan think based out of New Delhi)

Disinformation Misinformation

923

Academic Research or Hit Job?

Ashoka University paper deviously questions Indian electoral outcomes in the guise of research with very little basis or evidence Vinod Kumar Shukla It took over four years for Ashoka University to come up with 50-page research paper ‘Democratic Backsliding in the World’s Largest Democracy’ by Sabyasachi Das which terms 2019 Lok Sabha polls outcome as electoral fraud. The paper lacks objectivity when it outlines that polls were manipulated in closely contested constituencies. Manipulations at the time of voter registration, voting and counting are other findings that this paper boasts of. Insinuations that Muslims were deliberately de-franchised by removing their names from voter lists too figured in the report as one of the tools of manipulation. The research paper suggests that manipulation has its impact on nine to 18 seats with victory margin of three to seven per cent. Even if one were to believe that the data and findings were on dot, the outcomes would not have been tilted or would have remained unaffected as BJP had won 303 seats out of 543. BJP would have still formed the government even if it had lost all 18 seats as the paper claims. Another twisted argument claims that BJP won a disproportionately higher number of closely contested seats where it was in power. State cadre officers’ credentials have also been questioned in the report, They have been squarely held responsible for votes manipulation by charging that observers from state services of BJP-ruled states were in large numbers. Now, the interpretation that all state level officers resorted to manipulating outcomes to ensure a BJP victory was neither backed with evidence nor data or facts. This conclusion is more imaginary rather than being a fact. It’s libellous too. Let’s do a fact check on closely contested 98 seats with less than five per cent victory margins of which BJP had won 43 seats (roughly 44 per cent). Out of these seats, the BJP won 22 in states that it was in power. The paper in guise of research ignores the fact that BJP won equal number of seats from opposition parties ruled states. Ashoka University paper does not have any plausible explanation to insidious job in the name academic research. Contrary to what Ashoka University academic claims, 2019 elections were not at all closely contested as BJP led by its mascot Narendra Modi had secured over 50 per cent votes share in 224 seats. This constitutes about 75 per cent seats that BJP garnered. Why does Ashoka University paper set aside a glaring fact that BJP bagged more seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2014 Lok Sabha polls at 71 when SP was in power. This is against 62 seats won in 2019 when it was in the saddle. In 2019, there was a Congress government in Madhya Pradesh but BJP had won 28 seats out of 29; it had won all seats in Rajasthan while nine out of 11 in Chhattisgarh. Karnataka too was ruled by the opposition when BJP and its ally had won 26 seats out of 28 seats. West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana were such states where BJP did well despite opposition governments. The Quint was quoted in the Ashoka University paper to point out variance in votes polled through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and votes counted. The paper claims that there was variance in 373 seats but was able to provide examples of 11 seats where it purportedly found discrepancies. Of these, five were won by the BJP and six by others. Actually the author needs basic lessons in politics and election dynamics as closely contested seats won by any political party by no means suggest manipulation. They have won with organisational strength, social engineering, compatibility of alliance partners, campaign strategy, strength of economic and development agenda, star campaigners and benefits provided to people by the government. In closely contested elections, taking voters to booths on polling day matters the most and BJP is good at it. Election management in BJP is done with such precision that it goes for person to person, door to door contact with volunteers or party people marked to each voter or the family. So, BJP predictions on victory or outcomes made periodically is based on its extensive campaign machinery inputs and not conjecture, predictions made by media outlets or hear say. Asoka University paper also talks about deletion of Muslim votes from electoral lists thereby questioning the very basic electoral credential in India that has been hailed as ‘biggest festival of democracy’ by international agencies as well. The report commits another big blunder by completely ignoring notices given to parties like Samajwadi Party of Akhilesh Yadav to provide proof in support of his allegations on deletion of muslims names from the electoral lists. Actually, the case of Muslim vote banks is the other way round as Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators are illegally getting inducted into voter lists not only changing demographies but are a threat to democracy. So, Ashoka University report is not academic work but a hit job done on behalf of certain political parties. Report findings or observations in such cases are predetermined and arguments, data points or methodology is designed to such false narratives. Such reports are later amplified by leaders like Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee to drive their own nefarious agenda. They have always been questioning Election Commission of India, Electronic Voting Machines and voter verified paper audit trail (VV PAT) whenever they lost elections or people rejected them. If non-BJP parties were to be elected, then these very parties hail such ‘electoral outcomes’ as ‘victory to democracy’. As if in second thought, Ashoka University meanwhile distanced itself from findings in the paper commission by the institution. But question remains, who assigned the project? Who funded it? The university must come clean as it puts a big question mark on credibility of constitutional bodies of the country like Election Commission of India. Ashoka University in any case is known in academic circles for debunking alternative socio-economic

Disinformation Hindus Human Rights Misinformation Security

1.01K

Factsheet : Manipur’s Recent Incident

Putting an end to violence, abuse is prerequisite to finding lasting solution to multi-tribe diverse Manipur state On recent undignified assault on Manipuri women and unrelenting ethnic clashes, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi stated that perpetrators of these crimes will not be spared or forgiven. An incident, where two Manipuri women of the Kuki tribe were paraded naked in broad daylight, went viral on social media, exacerbating the on-going turbulence in the region. While there have been significant on-going efforts from the government and civil society to stop these ethnic clashes in last few months, the event triggered widening gap between Hindus and Christians in the region. Historical background Continued violence in Manipur, a north-eastern state in India, has resulted in significant loss of life and property in over two months. This situation has highlighted the delicate social fabric and presence of non-state actors with divisive agendas. For several decades, ethnic clashes among various tribes and religious differences between Hindus, Christians, and Muslims have contributed to the state’s instability. This instability has been exacerbated by factors like infiltration and spread of drug mafias, illegal crossings from across the Myanmar border, circulation of fake currencies and activities of Islamist groups and Church proselytisers. It is important to note that Manipur became a state in India on September 21, 1949 following the signing of Manipur Merger Agreement between the Governor General of India and Maharaja of Manipur. In subsequent years, Indian Government granted Scheduled Tribe status to the Kukis, a large number of converted Christians, while the indigenous Naga tribe also saw significant conversions to Christianity through proselytization efforts. As a result, more than 90 per cent of Nagas are now Christians. On the other hand, Meitei tribe who practise Hinduism was not awarded Scheduled Tribe status and has since struggled to preserve its culture, traditions, customs and beliefs amidst rapid pace of religious conversions. Religious demography of Manipur over the years has been shown in Fig. 1. Fig.1. Religious demography of Manipur, Source: Census 1951-2011; CIHS Analytics. Christian population in Manipur consisting mainly of the Kukis, Nagas, and Meiteis (who are predominantly Hindus) is roughly equal in numbers across the state. The Meiteis have been protesting against their exclusion from Scheduled Tribe status, but these efforts have often faced violence and opposition from Christians affiliated with various denominations. In March this year, Manipur High Court ordered the state government to include Meiteis in the list of Scheduled Tribes within four weeks. This directive of the High Court was fiercely opposed by several tribal organisations including the All India Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM). These bodies argued that inclusion of Meiteis would be unfair to other tribes, disrupt the state’s social fabric and their own economic and cultural systems. Conversely, the Meiteis firmly believe that without obtaining Scheduled Tribe status and other constitutional protections, they might face ethnic cleansing within a few decades. Inclusion in the scheduled list of tribes would grant the Meiteis access to educational institutions such as schools, colleges, and universities, as well as provide them with socio-economic benefits available to tribal populations from both state and central governments. The Meiteis, also known as Manipuris, reside in resource-rich and fertile valley situated in the heart of Manipur, as depicted in Fig. 2. Towards north of the valley, the Nagas are predominantly concentrated, while the Kukis inhabit the hills in both the northern and southern parts of the state. According to recorded history, the Nagas and Meiteis have been inhabitants of the region for a longer period compared to the Kukis, who are considered migrants and share close connections with the Chins of Myanmar and the Mizos of Mizoram. Timeline May 4th: The incident took place in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district. May 18th: Zero FIR registered at Kangpokpi police station which was later transferred to Thoubal police station where the incident exactly took place. As per the police statement, the FIR was registered against unknown miscreants regarding abduction and gang rape, leading to subsequent investigation. May 27th and May 28th: Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande visited Manipur to assess on-ground situation in the state (and region). He interacted with Governor Anusuiya Uikey, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh to discuss internal security situation in the state. May 30th: Home Minister Amit Shah visited Manipur and interacted with civil society organisations, defence personnel, civil servants, and prominent personalities to discuss and address the many ethnic issues in the region. First week of July: As per Manipur Police, a total of 129 nakas / checkpoints were installed in different regions of the state to ensure law and order is maintained. Over 650 people have been detained in relation to the case till now. July 19th: The video clip of these two women paraded naked in the Manipur district of Kangpokpi went viral on social media. July 22nd: Six persons (05 main accused and 01 juvenile) were arrested so far. Over 60,000 security personnel have been deployed in various regions of the state to ensure law and order is maintained. This includes armed forces, paramilitary forces, and police. Aftermath of the incident While most of the media coverage highlighted ethnic conflicts between the Meiteis and the Kukis to be the root cause of the incident, it is also crucial to look into other factors as well.

Business Education Geopolitics Leadership Policy Technology

974

De-risking to defanging currency, trade deals

Rupee, UPI, desi currency trade has taken world by storm. Prime Minister Modi thrust in France, UAE paying handsome dividends K.A. Badarinath Defanging to de-risking global trade and currency deals for India is what Prime Minister Narendra Modi achieved in his visit to France and United Arab Emirates (UAE) last week. Agreements concluded during Prime Minister Modi’s visit not only make trade and currency deals more advantageous from Indian perspective but also reflect the country’s growing confidence in shaping commercial partnerships across geographies. Otherwise, how would one explain taking United Payments Interface (UPI) and RuPay to France or for that matter, UAE? In his West Asia sojourn, UAE and India’s decision to denominate bilateral trade in Rupees and Dirhams is again a big departure from dollar or Euro centric transactions. This is over and above bringing the UPI and RuPay to Abu Dhabi. Currency transactions at retail level on Indian digital platforms to large rupee denominated trade deals have been described by some analysts as ‘de-dollarization’ of Indian economy. But, India’s latest thrust on currency and trade front are more to do with her growing economic and investment muscle and acceptability rather than moving away from the US greenback or euro. Indians visit to the Eiffel Tower in France by purchasing tickets in Rupees may be simpler way of presenting the implications of latest agreements for hoi polloi. The deal involving Lyra of France and National Payments Corporation of India to become operative in September this year would mean much more than paying for tickets at tourist spots in rupees. Wider and willing acceptance of Indian Rupee in Europe is due to financial innovation making Indian digital payments platform UPI secure and affordable across continents. The decision to link United Payments Interface with UAE’s Instant Payment Platform (IPP) makes the country’s digital payments foray wider and deeper in West Asia. In fact, the deal between RBI and UAE’s Central Bank allows for RuPay and UAE Switch interoperable. India’s structured financial messaging system (SFMS) will go to UAE thereby instantly recognizing Indian debit and credit cards. Larger implication is that holding Indian Rupee by central banks and dealers globally by value and quantity will go up many-fold in few years from now. Also, internationalization of Indian rupee is on the verge of becoming a hard reality. Rupee denominated export and import of goods and services internationally will make the Indian currency more tradable given the large ticket size of these transactions. France and UAE are not isolated cases in accepting Rupee denominated trade deals, UPI, RuPay or Rupee Switch. Singapore’s PayNow had done a deal with NPCI to embark on UPI platform. It moved Indian digital payments platform to South East Asian one step further. In May this year, India and Russia had announced making payments easier through RuPay and Mir cards in both countries. UPI of India and Bank of Russia’s Faster Payments System are being linked to make seamless real time transactions in Rupees and Roubles a reality apart from deal on financial messaging systems. Non Resident Indians (NRIs), businessmen, tourists and students in ten countries including Australia, Canada, US, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom apart from others could either receive or send money once their domestic bank accounts were linked to their international phone numbers. As per independent consultancy Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC), one billion rupee denominated transactions per day is estimated to happen in next two years through United Payments Interface and RuPay network. Already, over 73 per cent non-cash transactions in India have gone digital on UPI. Over 18 countries have either opened or in the process of opening Vostro accounts to settle trade deals in rupees or their respective local currencies moving away from US dollar, euro, UK pound or any major international currency. Latest to join this jamboree is Indonesia whose finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati firmly stated in Gandhinagar indicated that bilateral trade will happen in Rupees and Rupiah. Bangladesh went one step further and began trade settlements in Indian rupees. This was limited to US dollar till last week. India’s trade valued at US $ 1.6 trillion in last one year seem to have shaped the country’s strategy on cross border currency deals and rupee transactions. And, Indian strategy of gaining acceptability for rupee is however distinctly different from China’s ‘wolf worrier’ investment and loans strategy to gain dominance. Significant progress made by India on rupee’s acceptability and trade transactions cannot however sidestep the challenges in making it part of the reserve currency basket. Current strategy adopted by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian government has the potential to deliver notwithstanding its limitations. Unless rupee is increasingly used in current account transactions like investments and capital flows, internationalizing the currency may hit a wall. Secondly, as the RBI working group recommended, Rupee must get included in Special Drawing Rights basket of currencies maintained by International Monetary Fund (IMF) to hold its assets. Recalibration of Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPI) may have to be considered for hastening the path to internationalizing rupee. There has been serious discussion amongst BRICS countries to settle trade related transactions within the group in local currencies. A conscious decision on use of member countries’ currencies to square off trade deals would translate to democratization of economic world order. For the stakeholders, reduction in transactions costs, limiting the foreign exchange risks and more safeguards to the trade deals will be accrued apart from huge optimization in capital costs. India accounting for a modest two per cent of global trade in value terms limits internationalization of rupee. Similarly, there may be little to modest enthusiasm to denominate Indian debt globally in rupee terms instead of dollar. Internationalizing rupee and turning it to a currency in reserve is a long haul project for which a firm foundation has been laid by the Modi government. (Author is Director & Chief Executive of non-partisan think tank, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies based in New Delhi)

Blog Post