Tackling terrorism and illegal immigration: Is Modi-plomacy the mantra for a bolder India?

Published: 20:31 EDT, 18 May 2014 | Updated: 20:32 EDT, 18 May 2014

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After 30 years, India has got a political party with a clear majority in Parliament.

The mandate for change handed out to Narendra Modi by the country can help India get rid of the ‘timid’ tag and pave the way for an era of Modi-plomacy.

During the UPA government’s tenure, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s diplomatic policies were considered weak, especially when it came to Pakistan.

During the campaign, Narendra Modi he had made it apparent that his style will be decisive and a message will be sent out to errant neighbours

With a clear mandate, Modi has the potential to set things right in this regard.

In the new-age diplomacy, Modi will have to go full throttle on external security and fix the terrorism scourge emanating from Pakistan.

He will have to ensure that Islamabad hands over the 26/11 perpetrators.

Strong message

For a long time, India has restrained itself when it comes to diplomacy with Pakistan. Modi should go ahead to send a strong message in case Islamabad continues to foment terrorism against India.

What will be unique is that he now has the elbow-room to take bold decisions.

The man who will control India’s nuclear button will also be without any pressure from nagging allies and regional parties, which often impeded decisions.

During the campaign, he had made it apparent that his style will be decisive and a message will be sent out to errant neighbours.

Settling the Kashmir issue will be a priority for him. He is expected to send out a stern message that statements like, "Kashmir continues to be a jugular vein" - made by Pakistan’s Army Chief General Raheel Sharif - will not be tolerated.

Iron fist

For soem time, the UPA has had blown hot and cold when it comes to diplomacy with Pakistan. It is high time that the new government in New Delhi adopted an iron fist approach.

Despite all the diplomatic niceties, ‘win-win’ measures like the ‘most favoured nation’ status for trade and a liberal trade regime have not been reciprocated by Islamabad.

Modi was critical of illegal immigration from Bangladesh, but he has to keep in mind that Dhaka has been friendly with New Delhi and addressed the security concerns of its neighbour.

With both Mamata Banerjee and Jayalalithaa not controlling the power levers in New Delhi, the good news is that India’s neighbourhood policy will not be held hostage by the two chief ministers.

Even though the U.S. has extended an olive branch to him, Modi will have to send out a message to Washington that the new government will deal with the Americans on its own terms.

Indo-U.S. ties had hit an all time low in the last few months. The visa denial to Modi, trade irritants and consular issues following the Devyani Khobragade episode need the attention of the new government.

On priority list

Ties with East Asia and with European countries like the UK and France will be on Modi’s priority list. British PM David Cameron was first off the mark with a congratulatory phone call to Modi.

Earlier too, the UK was quick to send its envoy to Gujarat to end Modi’s diplomatic isolation. Modi’s first major diplomatic engagement will be in Brazil for the BRICS summit starting from July 15.

He is expected to travel for the summit in Fortaleza where he may meet the leaders from China, Russia and Brazil.

On the whole, one expects Modi-plomacy to be lot more assertive and pragmatic.

World leaders get in touch

Narendra Modi’s global engagements as India’s Prime Minister-designate have already begun. British Premier David Cameron was quick to congratulate Modi, followed by Australian Premier Tony Abott.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has invited Modi to visit Pakistan, an invitation Modi will choose to ignore for now. Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa also congratulated Modi.

Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina wrote a letter to him, expressing that ties will be on an upswing. She also telephoned the Prime Minister-designate on Sunday, congratulating him on his resounding victory and inviting him to Bangladesh.

U.S. President Barack Obama was also expected to speak to the Prime Minister-designate later on Sunday, hoping to put ties between the two countries on an even keel.

The first diplomatic engagement for Modi at the multilateral level will be the BRICS summit in Brazil on July 15.

Netanyahu says Modi keen to strengthen ties with Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said India’s Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi has expressed his desire to deepen and develop ties with Israel.

“On Friday, I spoke with the PM-elect of India. There, too, is a clear expression of the desire to deepen and develop economic ties with the state of Israel,” Netanyahu told his cabinet at its weekly meeting.

Benjamin Netanyahu did not lose time in reaching out to Modi as part of his goal to benefit from untapped potential in the huge market there

Netanyahu, who is looking to strengthen economic ties with Asia which is likely to overtake the Jewish state’s close ally U.S. as the largest export destination, has recently put a lot of emphasis on promoting bilateral trade with India, China, Japan and other Asian countries.

Netanyahu did not lose time in reaching out to Modi — all set to be India’s next PM — as part of his goal to benefit from untapped potential in the huge market there.

Israel may have a staunch new ally in South Asia with India’s election of Modi to the position of PM, New York-based International Business Times reported on Saturday.

Crisil calls for bolder reforms by new government to boost GDP

The thumping majority with which the Narendra Modi-led BJP has stormed into power is expected to give the new government sufficient headroom to push through economic reforms for boosting the GDP growth rate.

“Bold reforms and prudent monetary and fiscal policies by the incoming Narendra Modi government will help the economy to grow at 6.5-7 per cent,” a Crisil report released on Sunday stated.

“The decisive electoral mandate has created the best environment in a long time to bite the bullet on government finances,” the credit rating agency further stated.

Controlling inflation has been accorded a high priority on the BJP's election manifesto. Steps to revive the manufacturing sector will be critical as well

Political leaders are also of the view that the BJP government is now in a position to implement its own manifesto and will not be hampered by competing demands from troublesome allies.

Crisil has listed out a five-point list of priorities for the new government, which includes taming inflation, fiscal consolidation, improving the asset quality of banks and their recapitalisation, encouraging debt markets and boosting manufacturing and employment.

The report said for taming inflation the new government will have to ensure better coordination between monetary and fiscal policies and take steps such as dismantling the APMC (agricultural produce marketing committee) Act for reducing food inflation.

Controlling inflation has also been accorded a high priority on the BJP’s election manifesto.

Steps to revive the manufacturing sector will be critical as well.

“Clarity on land acquisition, environmental clearances, better infrastructure, and labour law reforms — such as shifting its purview to the states, will be critical to improve the business climate and boost manufacturing, which is in its worst phase in the last two decades,” Crisil added.