Modi’s realistic agenda

INDIA’S PRIME Minister, Narendra Modi, is clearly a man in a hurry. In no time at all he has made his priorities evident. At the swearing-in ceremony of himself and his ministers, outside the President’s magnificent British-designed resigned residence in the Capital, his special foreign invitees were the prime ministers or heads of state of the Saarc (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation) countries. Except for Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina, who was on an official tour of Japan, all of them turned up. 

By inviting them, Modi sent out his first important message: His administration would concentrate on furthering closer ties and better understanding with India’s neighbours, which mainly include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan. What’s more, the first visit he intends to make outside India is to Bhutan.

Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif’s presence at the swearing-in ceremony – despite opposition from some quarters in his country – was proof that Islamabad and New Delhi want to continue on the path of mutual peace and cooperation. Stability in both nations is the way forward and only the fanatical hotheads want tension, confrontation and possible hostilities.

The terrorist attack on the Indian consulate at Herat in west Afghanistan, which coincided with Sharif’s decision to come to India, was obviously intended to queer the pitch for his meeting with Modi. More such attempts can be expected from quarters who want to keep ties between India and Pakistan on the boil.

The traditional view is that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is widely considered as being “anti-Muslim”, tends to take a hard line on Pakistan. It has certainly done so while in Opposition. But when it is in power it has behaved quite differently. After all, it was at the time the BJP was in power that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee took his historic “bus ride” to Pakistan when Sharif led that country.

It also took boldness on Modi’s part to invite Sri Lanka’s Mahinda Rajapaksa, whose military has been accused of human rights violations at the end of the conflict against the LTTE. This was a sensitive issue with many Tamils and the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa, made no secret that she did not want him invited to the swearing-in (she did not attend the ceremony in protest). However, Modi disregarded her, indicating that India’s foreign policy cannot be dictated by regional compulsions.

The two countries that Modi seems to admire the most are China and Japan. China for having lifted so many of its people out of poverty — something which he hopes to do for India as well. The recent visit of China’s foreign minister to New Delhi (the first important dignitary to come to India under the new administration, apart from those who came for the swearing-in ceremony), was an indication of this admiration.

What about Modi’s domestic policy? Again, taking the cue from China, the stress will be on improving primary education and basic health care, two areas in which China is way ahead of India. The Chinese literacy rate is over 80 per cent, while India’s is still under 70 per cent. The average Chinese can expect to live into his or her late 70s, while an Indian only into his or her mid-60s (longevity of life is the surest indication of good health care). Education and health are the keys to faster economic development. Another initiative, which Modi has taken and that is close to his heart is to bring back the huge amount of “black” money that unscrupulous Indians have illegally stashed away abroad, running to many billions of dollars. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by a former Supreme Court judge, has just been set up, with instructions to place the matter on a “fast track”. I will hazard my own cynical prediction: Nothing will come of it.

But another initiative has already produced good results on the ground – making bureaucrats come on time to work. Sauntering in one or even two hours late and then settling down to a long cup of tea and idle chatter, used to be the norm. Modi has cracked the whip. He arrives at the office well before 9am and the “babus”, as civil servants are called, are now making sure they are also at their desks before then. Too good to last? Your guess is as good as mine.

Rahul Singh is the former editor of Reader’s Digest, Indian Express and Khaleej Times

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