Governance and Indian Nationalism (GAIN)

Maldives, a small island nation in the southwest of India and Sri Lanka, consists of 1,200 islands and is spread over 35,000 square miles in Arabian sea. The island country witnessed fresh wind of change when political reformer, Mohammad Nasheed, won elections in 2008.  However, China's growing influence in Maldives led to the ouster of Nasheed in 2012. Later in 2013, Abdallah Yameen took control of Maldives government through Chinese support. Under Yameen's leadership, Maldives began to develop closer ties with China and Saudi Arabia. Dr Swamy with former Maldives President, Mohammad Nasheed   In 2018, a political crisis erupted in Maldives when Yameen hinted at delaying elections and arrested opposition leaders. Apparently, China's influence was creating a bigger political crisis at the Island nation.  China had already invested heavily in the infrastructure, trade and energy sectors of Maldives and was hopeful to induct Yemen in its Belt road initiative (BR...

On February 29, 2020, US signed a peace deal with Taliban, which would entail complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. The peace deal will help US to significantly reduce its economic and human resource costs that are attached with military presence in a foreign country. Given the fragile nature of Afghanistan democracy, the country's future minus US presence, is seen with uncertainty and fear. Even though US presence in Afghanistan subdued Taliban's influence in the country, its network with international terror organizations like Al Qaeda, ISIS and Pak based groups like Jaish-E-Mohammed and Lashker-E-Taiba remained active. For example, the recent attack on a Sikh Temple in Kabul resulting in loss of 27 Sikh lives, is considered to be coordinated effort of multiple terror outfits.  With Taliban bidding time for complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, changing dynamics in the war ravaged country could be highly dis...

Post India's independence, US was ideologically inclined to develop close and strategic ties with India. US perceived India to be a natural partner since both the countries shared democratic values.  During the same phase, Mao Zedong, leader of CCP, took control of China in a military coup in 1949. This meant a drastic shift in China's political ideology in favor of Communism. Such transition wasn't acceptable to Americans, who then became desperate to expel China out of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and were willing to give this seat to India. As a result, then US secretary of state, John Foster, made the offer of UNSC seat to Indian Ambassador, Vijay lakshmi Pandit. When the US offer was communicated to Nehru, he declined it terming it as a trap by Americans. Despite America's friendly overtures, Nehru remained adamant over allowing China to retain the UNSC seat, under the pretext that not doing so would hurt Chinese sentiments.  Apart from UNSC seat, US was ...

Don't understand this euphoria over Russians coming to the rescue of India, especially when multiple actions of past prove Russia to be as deceptive as Chinese.  Ideologically, Russia is much closer to China and globally, Russia has supported China on many occasions in order to challenge US leadership in the world. Both the countries perceive United States as their enemy and don't wish to see India developing closer ties with US.  It is true that Russia helped India during 1971, however, it was only a geo-political decision driven by Russian interests and not due to any love for India.   Historically, Russia has played a dubious role in Indian political matters in order to serve its national interests. Following points prove that Russian friendship has been counter-productive to India's rise in global politics:  Mysterious Death of former PM, Lal Bahadur Shastri Being a hardcore nationalist, Shastri ji always placed national interests above self interest,...