Give Modi credit as he promotes goodwill
Criticism that he is away for too long does not hold good; he does not have to be in situ to take command
Detractors of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s often whirlwind foreign tours seem to forget that their criticism of his travel plans is outdated by the activation of instant audio visual communication. You do not have to be in situ to take command of a situation, be apprised of developments or take decisions. Ergo, his 24-hour stopovers as in the case of the recent trip to Palestine, UAE and Oman do not compromise his ability to lead nor can they be seen in time and age as a dereliction of duty or an indifference to priorities.
Those are outmoded scenarios and actually smack of isolationist policies rather than opting for a pro-active and dynamic presence.
The anti-Modi media beats a tattoo about his being away from the country when there has been a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Let’s break this down. A lot goes into planning a visit for a man of his stature by the host countries. If Modi were to have cancelled his commitments he would have put a great deal of effort and cost in preparations to waste.
By staying home he would have also given a credence and importance to the terrorist attack at Sunjuwan camp that these extremists would have capitalised upon. Most importantly, a nation cannot fall back on one man.
That is not a healthy sign in a democracy and the imagery of being populist by staying home and underscoring your concern in that fashion is now irrelevant. It might appeal to some comforting instinct in those who have not realised the world has shrunk and that there are no boundaries to the dissemination of information. For the most part people expect your team to carry out your orders and keep you in the loop wherever you are.
Modi’s foreign trips are target specific and have a three-pronged objective. One is to bring investment to India and create a commercial and industrial base while projecting India as the market of the future.
Why would anyone fault him for that? The second is to establish India as a power in the hemisphere and the third is to cobble treaties on security and allied quasi-military issues in which the voice of a billion people are amplified and count for something even in general international affairs.
Binding all this is a call to say: we will arbitrate and be a bridge over troubled waters.
Not in years has an Indian leader been recognised around the world as a person of substance. It would require great prejudice to reject the submission that in three years Modi has placed India smack, right dab in the middle of the global stage. His style, his swagger, even his rhetoric and his impulsive physical bear hugs have melted resistance, improved foreign relations and brought other world leaders around to acknowledge him as a power broker.
There are many issues on which he can be faulted. The widening divide between religions. The re-emergence of the caste war. The burgeoning numbers of the unemployed. The arbitrary fiscal exercises. The high cost of living. All of these focus on the gap between the promises of 2014 and the level of fruition of 2018.
But as far as promoting India’s image abroad and being instrumental in improving multilateral relations you have to hand it to him. As of February 2018, he has made 35 foreign trips to six continents, visiting 52 countries including the visits to the US to attend the UN General Assembly. Except for a trip to Beijing, which is on the cards, there is nothing on his agenda until the BRICs meet at Johannesburg in November.
While India’s opposition might like to cavil over travel, it is important to appreciate the gravitas he brings to the table. You do not have to like him or his policies but there is no denying the presence. He was in the UAE for 21 hours. Home to 3.2 million Indians, the country welcomed him with great warmth.
In that short span of time he signed several major deals including an Indian stake in Adnoc. Besides, he also inked in three memoranda of understanding on manpower and cooperation in railways and inland waterways. On the financial side he cleared a contract between Bombay Stock Exchange and Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange.
One has to be decidedly petty to detract from these achievements or refuse to find virtue in the way he has created a warm and trusting nexus with the Gulf countries. A day earlier he was in Palestine escorted by Israeli jets. But he did come out strongly for an independent state. Perhaps a lesser man would have stayed away or been lot more guarded. On he went to Muscat where another slew of deals awaited him.
Those who have a need to take the fluff out of their navels and put it to the light will focus on the cost of these trips. They probably have crossed $15 million in these past three years but placed in perspective the returns are much higher and not always translated into money. Goodwill, political standing and long-term, across the board arrangements are priceless.
None of these factors are indicative in any way to his being unconcerned about events in India, especially those that impact on the nation’s safety and security. The best approach to the enemy in whatever guise it might present itself is to continue with business as usual. Bikram Vohra is a former
Editor at Khaleej Times