NaMoste Obama – Another Step Forward ------------------------------------------------------------ As US President Barak Obama’s Air Force One is touching down at the Palam airforce base in New Delhi, surely something positive is happening in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His approach to world politico-economic issues and his handling of them is unique and unprecedented. Modis invitation to US President Barack Obama to be the chief guest at our Republic Day parade this year is his biggest political and diplomatic coup. As India surges ahead in economic development, Modi realizes that our country needs to maintain good relations with the most influential and powerful nation in the world. Earlier Congress or Third Front Govts. could not have invited Obama because of their Nehruvian leftist-socialist ideology and albatross of Non Alignment hanging around their necks. But Modi does not carry any such baggage. President Obama is the first US President to come to India, a second time during his term in office and also the first ever US President to attend the national day celebration of any country in the world. The Republic Day is our most significant annual national extravaganza, where apart from our cultural richness, the might of our armed forces is on display, to let the world know that we are a top military power apart from economic and knowledge power house in the world. This is the first time, that an Indian Prime Minister has invited an American President for the Republic Day parade, thereby clearly signalling on India’s intention to secure its strategic interests. This should pave the road for greater economic, defence and strategic cooperation between the two countries and spur India on a higher orbit among major powers in the world. Modi is also conveying a strong message to his political detractors within the country who are still upset over his Lok Sabha election victory. That they may not still “digest” the fact that he has become the Prime Minister of India on a popular mandate but world leaders like Obama have acknowledged the change in India. This is also a proof of the admiration and respect that Obama has for Prime Minister Modi, whom he recently referred to as a “man of action” during the recently concluded summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and East Asia Summit (EAS) member countries. Even US Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes has publicly acknowledged that Modi’s invitation “took Obama and US Govt. by surprise” considering the complicated history between the two countries but that Obama felt personally honoured to accept the invitation. He also said that the US Govt. sees this as a potentially transitional if not transformational moment for the relationship because they have a very strong and clear indication from Indias leadership that India wants to elevate the bilateral and global cooperation between the two nations. I am sure PM Modi would effectively use his good relations with Obama and the US to encourage American businessmen and corporations to invest in India particularly in infrastructure, scientific research, manufacturing, defence, health care, education and finance sectors. This would definitely remain as one of the most highly significant achievement in international diplomacy by an Indian leader and a master stroke by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 04:10:59 +0000
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