The Armageddon of Narendra Modi

The landing of the “Air India One” at the John F Kennedy airport in New York today carrying Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister, marks the culmination of a sad era for the so called “Secular” activists, intellectuals, media and politicians of India. These “secular saints” are already disgusted that a man against whom they run the most virulent hate campaign, earlier won a free and fair election with a thumping majority in a country whose “pseudo-secular, left-democratic and minority-pampered liberal” traditions preached and practiced by these elements as “nationalism” have been consigned to flame in the “Ghats of Varanasi” by the very man named Narendra Damodardas Modi. But even after this they have not stopped their “hate Modi” campaign and using every opportunity in any national or international public platform to ridicule, dismiss and belittle the good works started by Modi in every sphere of governance in the last about 3 months in power. They want India and the world to doubt and find fault in his every intention, word and action. They are also indulging in unsolicited advice and suggestions, which are actually disguised pitfall for him.

 

Therefore, they criticized him when he invited heads of SAARC nations to his swearing in ceremony, they criticized him during his visit to Bhutan, Nepal, BRICS summit and Japan, they criticized him after his address to the nation during Independence Day, Teachers Day and his “Make in India” campaign and continuing their campaign against his visit to the UN General Assembly summit in New York alongwith USA visit starting today. These "sickularists" are trying all options including filling a court case (which has no impact on a PM of any country as per US & international law) against Modi, paid demonstrations in collaboration with Teeshta Setalwads of the world, discussing in media more about how some inconsequential US analysts are still sceptical about his economic agenda & reform policies (incidentally S&P has raised India's rating today from “negative” to “stable”), and more importantly how India's refusal for the Secy. level talks have given the Na-Awaz Na-Sharif Pakistani PM the opportunity to raise Kashmir issue in UNGA (as if in last 10 years when we had so many "biryani level" talks, Pak never raised this in UN and other international forum). They are also advising Modi that India being the big brother, should show magnanimity towards Pakistan and help Nawaz Sharif domestically by not rebutting him very hard tomorrow at UN and resuming the composite dialogue with Pakistan. In their arrogance, these “secular saints” tend to forget that India is larger and wiser than their blind faith in some false beliefs which lack rational understanding. Modi doesn't need any of their suggestions and advices, as he would do what he deems fit and upholds the dignity & pride of India.

 

The sight of thousands of people gathered to welcome Modi, infront of his New York hotel with chants of “Har, Har Modi” with placards displaying 'We love Modi', 'America loves Modi', messages must be most disappointing and sad moments of their life for these “secular saints”. But there are more in store for them from tomorrow as on 27th Sept, after paying his tribute at the 9/11 memorial in New York, Modi will address the 69th annual session of UN General Assembly at the UN HQ, which will be televised live not only in India but all over the world. After this Prime Minister Modi will drive down to the historic Central Park to address the annual “Global Citizens Initiative”, which aims at building a sustainable world community. On 28th Sept, he will address a crowd of more than 20,000 including many US Congressmen, corporate heads and prominent thinkers from 48 American States and 5 Canadian provinces - at the Madison Square Garden, with several thousand people watching him live at the iconic Times Square. This will be the largest gathering ever in Medison Square Garden to listen to a foreign leader. On 29th Sept, Modi will have a meeting with top American CEOs, majority of whom are from Fortune 200 and almost all of them from Fortune 500 list, thus reflecting the new energy and enthusiasm about India among the top American corporates. This will be followed by US President Barak Obama hosting a rare private dinner for PM Modi at the White House to establish a personal relationship with the Indian leader ahead of summit talks the next day. On 30th Sept, Obama and Modi will have bilateral discussions as to how Indo-US ties can be taken to a "new level" in the interest of the two countries as well as of the world.

 

Narendra Modi is a leader with a vision and penchant for action. Throughout his career, Modi has displayed a remarkable consistency in both ideology and political rhetoric and therein lies the secret of the huge support he attracts. Modi enjoys tremendous advantage over his political and ideological rivals as his supporters have no apprehensions about his true ideological beliefs, intent and ability though these “sickularist liberals” want India and the world to believe, that the “Third Reich” is on the anvil with constant invocation of Hitler imagery. Modi has relentlessly pursued the halo of “India First” with restoration of balance in governance by practicing true secularism and working for a developed “Shrestha Bharat”. Modi is winning hearts and minds in India and world over on his own "Terms and Conditions". And that is the bottom line. Modi’s detractors should now realize that post 16th May'2014, this is a different India and Modi's Govt. has thrown the apologetic & submissive foreign, defence, economic and social policies of earlier Govts. to the “Nehruvian Graveyard”. The world now has to get used to this new, resurgent “Modified” India that has stopped bending backward.

The Meeting of the Dragon & the Elephant - INCH (India & China) towards MILES (Millennium of Exceptional Synergy)

The banks of river Sabarmati defined India’s fate when Mahatma Gandhi launched the non-violent Satyagraha from his Ashram here to free India from the British Raj. Nearly a century later, the river will witness some defining moments in modern history of India, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will walk on its bank today evening to discuss bilateral strategic relationship in view of the border disputes & geo political situation in South East Asia and exchange of trade, commerce & investment.

 

Modi Govt’s. growing focus on its neglected neighbourhood, growing influence and clout among the international community as well as various world economic and military power’s renewed importance to India in view of its changed domestic and foreign policy in all spheres of governance has made China sit up and look towards India differently. Modi has also made it very clear that he sees China as a competitor and intends to pursue a more muscular economic, foreign and defence policy than the previous centre-left Congress party government. While Modi Govt. is working towards revival of the economy and breathes life into a moribund manufacturing sector, the PM is very clear that while India may have some niche capabilities in software and pharmaceuticals, no economic power house in the world has taken off without being a manufacturing power. Therefore, India has to do everything and compete with China for becoming a manufacturing hub for major business houses of the world.  China’s current slowdown in its manufacturing sector can be India's biggest growth opportunity. India has to not only think but work smart by becoming a mass manufacturing hub of high quality products with next generation cutting edged technology stuff to even compete with Japan and Germany.

India will soon launch its own Project Mausam, a transnational initiative meant to revive its ancient maritime routes and cultural linkages with countries in the region. This is probably Narendra Modi Govt's most significant foreign policy initiative for countering Beijing's growing influence in the Indian Ocean region. India has also eased restrictions on building roads and military facilities along its border with China. The environment ministry has recently relaxed environmental rules within 100km (62 miles) of the disputed remote border to speed up construction of some 6,000km of roads and other infrastructure in areas that China claims as its own. China meanwhile is eager to cement its relationship with India at a time of its heightened tensions with Japan and several Southeast Asian nations over disputed territory.

 

Though due to various historic and strategic reasons India needs to deal with China carefully, but seizing opportunity due to the current geo-political situations without being hostage to historic inhibitions is in India’s interest.  While interacting with the Chinese and Indian media yesterday, Prime Minister Modi has rightly said that India and China are bound by history, connected by culture and inspired by rich tradition. He describe the potential of India-China ties as  INCH (India & China) towards MILES (Millennium of Exceptional Synergy) pointing out that when India and China strengthen relations, almost 35% of the world's people come closer and their lives undergo qualitative change. At a time when political and economic situations in the world are going through a major transformation, India-China competition and cooperation can have a major impact on shifting the global balance of power, as well as on the realisation of an Asian Century of Prosperity. With the new Indian Govt in office, a new wave of reform and development has been sweeping across India, greatly boosting the confidence of the Indian people and attracting keen international interest in its opportunities. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the new Indian Govt. is committed to building a united, strong and modern India —“ Shreshtha Bharat” and towards this endeavour has identified 10 priority areas including providing clean & efficient administration and improving infrastructure  & economy. China and India are both faced with historic opportunities to connect respective development strategies more closely and to jointly pursue common dream of national strength and prosperity.

 

मोदीजी सिर्फ बोलते ही नहीं बजाते भी अच्छा है..!!!

The Narendra Modi Govt. on Tuesday completed 100 days. During the last Lok Sabha elections, everbody saw how “Modi opposition ki Bajatey the”.  But on the 100^th day of his Government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has revealed a little known talent of his for musical instrument during his trip to Japan. While on last Monday he was seen playing a few notes on flute at a Tokyo school, the “piece de resistance” came on Tuesday at a TCS event when he took – like a pro – to a pair of traditional Japanese Taiko drums and amazed everyone present. The real professional drummer, who had started the proceedings, had to play at his best to keep pace with PM Modi.

 

Actually, it’s a “cultural shock” after 10 years of watching Sonia Gandhi using Manmohan Singh as her drum and beat him up. It is a huge relief from the stiff and robotic diplomatic visits of former PM Singh, who used to read from scripted speeches or spoke in bureaucratic English, showed very little physical as well as emotional mobility and rarely displayed his political acumen. Singh’s foreign visits always had a battery of journalists accompanying him on “free junket”. Yet, we never saw the kind of detailed coverage that  Modi is getting both in national and international media, inspite of the fact that he does not pay for the “junket” of the journalists. Modi’s “flute-&-drum” diplomacy is a refreshing change because he not only deploys his persona and political acumen but also people skills. He is showcasing to the world what is India and Indians are capable of even by his own example -  the metaphor-rich image of the former “chaiwala” taking part in an elaborate tea ceremony in Japan, one of the most industrialized and developed nation in the world.

 

During this short span of 100 days the Modi Govt. has a lot of achievements to showcase. Prime Minister Modi set precedent by establishing new style of working culture among his council of ministers and bureaucrats , directed all the Ministries to follow austerity principle by doing away with wasteful expenditures and be accountable to the people. His Govt. took many bold decisions including abrogation of redundant institution like Planning commission as well as 62 Groups of Ministers (GoMs) and Empowered Groups of Ministers (EGOMs). Also the  Govt.  announced SIT for bringing $8 billion black money back to the country, scrapped the collegium system and established Judicial accountability Bill instead, emphasized need of toilets in every house and started “Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana” to make rural India financially sound.  Apart from these, the Indian economy saw a 5.7% growth rate which will surely rise in the coming days. But the one area where Mr.Modi has excelled spectacularly is the way he has given towering image to Indian diplomacy unlike his predecessors. Right from inviting leaders of SAARC countries to his swearing-in ceremony to bringing back nurses from strife-torn Iraq to then recent blocking of WTO's Trade facilitation agreement in the larger interest of the poor of our country. He also bowled over people of Bhutan and Nepal on his recent trip to those countries. Modi also took hard decision when he cancelled foreign secretary level talk with Pakistan for their bonhomie with Kashmiri separatist elements. All these proved that Modi is a master in the art of displaying diplomatic flair.

The meetings between the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Narendra Modi reflected the warmth, mutual respect and deep ties that exists not just between the second and the third largest economies of Asia but also among the two nations with shared and deep rooted cultural and religious bondage.  With Modi Govt. seeking massive investments over the next five years to create 100 new smart cities, upgrade infrastructures with investments in new ports, introduce bullet trains and reform railways, improve level of governance and make the proposed industrial corridors and clusters successful, Japan is perhaps one of the most important countries that is in a position to invest as well as help in improving issues of economic efficiency. The other key areas of significant cooperation include that of education and research as well as expanding horizons of shared values like that of Buddhism and Hinduism. The class of Japanese education and their excellence in the area of fundamental research is incomparable. Collaboration between Japanese and Indian Universities can be a major area of progress. Abe announced that japan will invest USD 34 billion (approx. Rs 2,10,000 crore) over the next five years, under the aegis of India-Japan Investment Promotion Partnership in various projects including infrastructure, building of smart cities in India, transport systems, rejuvenation of the Ganga and other rivers, manufacturing sector, skill development, and rural development etc., which will be financed by this fund under the public private partnership (PPP) model. So, without any doubt,  among the foreign visits of PM Modi till now, the visit to Japan is the most significant one. Japan is perhaps the ideal nation which can become one of the most trusted allies of India and a major contributor to the Indian economy through investments and cooperation in various areas.

Modi has the magic of making things happen. The first 100 days of his governance is proof enough that India belongs to a different league.