Narendra Modi has, of late, been talking a lot about foreign policy related issues, mainly on Pakistan, China and Bangladesh. But so far he has pursued a hackneyed approach, reflecting the done-to-death BJP stand on foreign policy issues. But Friday the 13th of September should change it all. Modi is now the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate and a very strong contender for the country’s top job. He has shown to his admirers and detractors alike what an astute politician he is. LK Advani, in the hearts of his heart, must be secretly conceding this point to his former protégé. Now, more and more visiting foreign dignitaries and ambassadors will be meeting him, and rightly so. Modi will have increased interaction with the Ministry of External Affairs at the officials’ level, despite the fact that the MEA boss Salman Khurshid and Modi have no love lost for each other. Modi needs to revitalise the BJP’s foreign policy cell and meet its members regularly. Modi now needs to be more cautious than ever before while speaking on international politics and India’s relations with foreign countries, particularly the neighbors. He should be careful that he does not speak something about foreign policy now which may be held against him if he were to become the Prime Minister in a few months. Reuters Narendra Modi is seen in this photo after being announced as BJP’s PM candidate. Reuters Also, Modi should be careful in hauling the UPA government over coals on foreign policy related issues just for the sake of scoring brownie points against the Congress. One, he needs to build good relations all around – domestic or abroad. Yes, he needs to send a terse message to problem-creating countries like Pakistan, as he rightly did in his Rewari rally in Haryana on Sunday, his first public address in front of a large gathering after his anointment as PM candidate. But he needs to be more substantive. Two, Modi needs to remember that when he is addressing international audience he should be aware that he should cut down on anti-government rhetoric and ensure that India does not become a laughing stock before the international community as the BJP and the Congress slug it out in the run up to the upcoming parliamentary elections. The UPA leadership also needs to observe a similar restraint whenever they are commenting on Modi or the Opposition from the foreign soil. Three, while commenting on intricate and long-pending border-related issues with countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and China, Modi will do well to come up with some out-of-the-box solutions. The nation’s expectations from him are sky high and the people look upon him as a probable alternative and harbinger of a whiff of fresh air. Of course, these “solutions” need not be full-blown policy statements but in the form of teasers. The idea is to sow a seed of thought and move on. Let the targeted audience in the neighboring country mull it over. Ad nausea repetitions by Modi on Indian soldiers’ killings along the Line of Control and criticizing Manmohan Singh or AK Antony will neither help nor behave his rapidly rising stature. This is old and familiar strategy of the BJP which has been done to death by its front-line leaders. But now the BJP has dared to turn over a new leaf and brought a mass leader of a state to the national stage – perhaps for the first time in decades, if not first time ever. This change should be reflected in not just domestic political issues but also in foreign policy matters as foreign policy has acquired a new importance since the Kargil War. Modi will do well to be a good student of foreign policy and international relations, an area where he has no known expertise. He should not have any problem in getting this help from seasoned diplomats, serving or retired. States are increasingly becoming important in the federal structure of the country. There are increasing signs of the Indian states becoming more pro-active in cementing ties with foreign countries – whether near abroad like northeastern states are doing with Myanmar and Bangladesh or far abroad like Modi himself did way back in 2009 when he travelled to Russia. It is inevitable that more and more foreign ambassadors will be meeting him, particularly from European countries as they need his help in investments and trade. He will increasingly find his attention focused more and more on economic diplomacy. Much of Europe has already reconciled with the inevitability of doing business with Modi. The United States is the only sore thumb and Modi should not lower his dignity by applying for a US visa. If Modi becomes Prime Minister of India, it will be for the foreign governments, the US included, inviting him to visit their countries. If he doesn’t, he will hardly miss anything if he cannot visit one country in the world. Either way, he doesn’t really have to lose his sleep over it. There is one foreign policy issue which requires Modi’s intervention urgently: the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) that could not be introduced in the recently concluded monsoon session of parliament largely because of stiff opposition from the BJP and Trinamool Congress. When Bangladesh foreign minister Dipu Moni visited India recently, she made it a point to meet BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley. But the BJP stuck to its guns and ensured that the LBA bill is not even introduced in parliament. Bangladesh is a crucial neighbour, sharing the longest land border with India (over 4100 kms). India’s northeast is Bangladesh-locked. Most importantly, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is a tried and trusted friend of India and needs Indian support on the LBA issue before she gets engaged in election battle by January next with her arch political adversary Begum Khaleda Zia. Moreover, the LBA bill serves long term Indian strategic interests as I have argued here. Modi needs to address this issue urgently. Bangladesh government will also do well to touch base with him. Foreign policy, particularly India’s immediate neighbourhood, warrants bi-partisan approach and consensus in the larger national interest. Modi has demonstrated his mettle as a politician. But can he also step into the shoes of a statesman? *The writer is Kishkindha.
Posted on: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 05:27:07 +0000